Stephen Curry has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, marking his first such injury. He expressed concern about rushing his recovery, emphasizing the need for a careful healing process. Curry will be out at least until Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, with reevaluations occurring afterward. During his recovery, he acknowledged the emotional challenges of sitting out and the uncertainty of future opportunities for deep playoff runs. Curry highlighted the Warriors’ confidence in winning games without him and is committed to returning safely, working closely with team health experts while navigating the complexities of hamstring injuries.
MINNEAPOLIS — Stephen Curry is uncertain how long it will take to recover from his Grade 1 left hamstring strain, as this is his first experience with such an injury.
Describing the situation as a “gut punch,” Curry expressed the need to be cautious and not rush his return due to the “tricky” nature of hamstring injuries.
“This is new territory for me, and everything I’m learning about recovery indicates that there is a healing process that cannot be expedited,” Curry said during Thursday’s shootaround before the Warriors suffered a 117-93 defeat against the Timberwolves in Game 2. “After a week, I’ll need to reassess daily to determine when it’s safe to consider playing, and how much I can actually push myself.”
Curry will be sidelined through at least Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday, with a reevaluation scheduled afterward. Game 5 is set for Wednesday, followed by a three-day break before Game 6, if necessary, potentially allowing Curry up to 12 days for recovery. Should a Game 7 be required, that will occur on May 20.
Curry mentioned that he is “a bit away from” taking stationary jump shots, indicating that the rehabilitation process is quite extensive at this moment.
He reported no prior indications of injury before the incident during Tuesday’s second quarter of Game 1. While he raised his left leg and signaled for a substitution, he continued to play for 29 seconds until the game was halted.
“I felt great throughout the game until that moment,” Curry stated. “Then I made a quick defensive pivot and felt something. I didn’t anticipate it being serious and thought I could simply get it treated and return. However, with soft tissue injuries, there’s a risk of causing further damage if I attempted to continue. It’s a tough setback, but I’m hopeful for a swift return.”
Curry noted that the Warriors’ victory of 99-88 provided him and the team with confidence to advance in the series and possibly win it.
“There’s a strong sense of camaraderie in the locker room as they work to hold things together,” Curry remarked. “We are confident we can still win this series, and teammates are stepping up regardless of how the situation unfolds. It’s essential to maintain a positive mindset, build time for my recovery, and hopefully position ourselves for another series afterward where I can return safely without risking my health if I’m not fully ready.”
Throughout his career, the Warriors have been 9-4 without Curry in 13 playoff games. Thursday’s defeat marked their first absence without him since Game 1 of the 2018 Western semifinals against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a knee injury, where both Draymond Green and Klay Thompson were available for all 12 preceding games, and Kevin Durant played in six.
At 37, Curry mentioned that being sidelined now is far more challenging and emotionally draining than during his younger years. He’s uncertain about how many more chances he will have for a deep playoff run. This is why he told Green after the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler in early February, “This is it. It’s our last ride,” referring to their championship window for this postseason and the next two years with Curry, Green, and Butler under contract.
“We fought through the season’s final two months, and after a tough first round, we reached a Game 7,” Curry explained. “The way we were performing, I felt really good about our chances, and then something like this happens. It was emotionally overwhelming, to say the least.”
When queried if there might come a time when he would need to resist the urge to return prematurely to assist his team, Curry replied, “That conversation will eventually happen.” He added, “But I’m not there yet, and I’m not rushing back since a natural healing process is crucial. The body will indicate when it’s time, even if you’re capable of performing basketball moves with no pain.”
“I understand the complexities of hamstring injuries; they can trick you into believing they’re healed, even if the pain subsides. That uncertainty can be confusing, but I’ll do everything possible to return quickly.”
Curry acknowledged that he is unsure about the criteria for his return as he has never encountered a hamstring injury before.
“If it were an ankle issue or something similar, I’d have a better understanding,” Curry admitted. “I would know a set date for my return. With this, I’m in the dark, so I’m focusing on improving each day. I’m collaborating with [Rick Celebrini, Warriors VP of player health and performance] to do everything necessary to facilitate my return as soon as possible. That’s the goal, and whenever that moment arrives, I should have all the insights.”