Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench.
Getty
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks.
Stephen Curry was unable to take a key step forward in his recovery Sunday, raising fresh questions about his return timeline for the Golden State Warriors.
What head coach Steve Kerr had described as “probably the big day” came and went without Curry advancing to full-contact work.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Curry was not cleared to participate in a planned scrimmage while the team was in Atlanta.
“Steph Curry wasn’t cleared for the scrimmage in Atlanta on Sunday morning, per Warriors,” Slater wrote. “Just did more court/rehab work with Rick Celebrini. Warriors saying there was no setback. He just wasn’t yet ready to advance to next stage.”
The update represents a delay — though not a setback — in Curry’s progression as he continues to recover from patella-femoral pain syndrome and a bone bruise in his right knee.
Warriors Scrimmage Viewed as Critical Step
Stephen Curry, Warriors
GettyInjured Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the first half of their game against the Chicago Bulls.
Curry had been expected to participate in a full-contact scrimmage before the team traveled to Dallas for Monday’s game against the Mavericks.
Kerr had emphasized the importance of that session just a day earlier.
“He’s gonna play [Sunday] morning here before we go to Dallas,” Kerr said Saturday. “That’s the next step… I think five-on-five, that’s the plan. Sunday’s probably the big day, and we’ll know more at that point.”
Instead, Curry remained limited to individual court work and rehabilitation with the team’s performance staff, postponing what would have been a significant milestone in his recovery process.
Signs of Progress — But Timeline Still Fluid
Despite the missed scrimmage, the Warriors maintain that Curry is making “good progress.”
The team recently announced that the star guard has increased the intensity of his on-court workouts, signaling that he is entering a more advanced stage of recovery.
The next step is expected to involve live action and team practice, though Sunday’s development suggests that progression may take more time than initially anticipated.
Curry will be re-evaluated again after the team returns home later this week.
Warriors Struggling Without Curry
Curry’s absence has had a significant impact on Golden State’s season.
The two-time MVP last played on Jan. 30 against the Detroit Pistons and is averaging a team-leading 27.2 points per game.
Since his injury, the Warriors have gone 6-15, including a 126-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Golden State has lost 10 of its last 12 games, falling from the No. 7 seed to No. 10 in the Western Conference standings. The team now trails the Portland Trail Blazers by 1.5 games for the No. 9 spot.
With just 11 games remaining before the play-in tournament, the margin for error continues to shrink.
Return Window Still in Focus
There had been growing optimism that Curry could return as soon as the Warriors’ upcoming homestand.
Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported earlier this month that Curry appeared physically and mentally ready following a workout at Chase Center.
“He looked dead-eye serious, like he was about to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals,” Kawakami wrote.
That optimism centered around a possible return when Golden State hosts the Brooklyn Nets later this week.
However, Curry’s inability to scrimmage on Sunday may push that timeline back.
Cautious Optimism
For now, the Warriors continue to balance optimism with caution.
There has been no reported setback, but the missed scrimmage underscores the uncertainty surrounding Curry’s return.
With the postseason approaching and Golden State fighting to secure a better seeding in the play-in picture, Curry’s availability remains one of the most critical factors shaping the team’s outlook.