After securing wins in Portland and Utah, the Warriors hosted the Clippers in their home opener on Sunday night. It didn’t turn out to be a celebratory occasion though as they not only lost the game but also their superstar, Stephen Curry.
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Late in the third quarter, Curry rolled his ankle and had to leave the court in noticeable pain. The Warriors’ trainers had to use resistance bands on the sidelines to help their point guard get back in the game – which he did with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
His team was down by 10 and Curry must have wanted to help spearhead a comeback victory. Unfortunately, mere seconds after checking back in, Steph rolled his left ankle again while setting a screen, aggravating his injury. He then hobbled off the court and even required some assistance as he entered the tunnel.
Steph Curry (ankle) limped to the locker room during the Warriors-Clippers game.
Hope he’s okay
(via @NBCSWarriors)pic.twitter.com/txAhvA4vgD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 28, 2024
Given how the early years of the his career were marred with ankle injuries, such moments involving the veteran guard are particularly scary for Dubs nation. Thankfully, Steve Kerr provided an update on Curry’s injury during the post-game presser.
“He’s doing okay,” the head coach said. Kerr described the injury as “mild or moderate“, though it did sound like the team intended to proceed with caution.
“He’s obviously sprained that ankle many times before, so, he doesn’t think it’s too bad. But obviously, it’s a concern and he’s going to get an MRI tonight,” Kerr added.
Steve Kerr said Steph Curry called his ankle sprain “mild” and “moderate.” Doesn’t think it’s too concerning. MRI tonight. pic.twitter.com/v2l8mgKIHq
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 28, 2024
Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in the NBA, affecting approximately 26% of pro players every season. The timeline of a player’s return from this injury depends on the extent of the sprain. Grade 1 sprains typically require 1-2 weeks of rest but Grade 2 sprains can require anywhere from 4-6 weeks of recovery.
Fans will certainly be hoping it’s the former in this case, given the troubled history of Curry’s ankles.
Steph has faced ankle injuries since his rookie season
The four-time NBA champion had to miss his first NBA game due to a sprained left ankle – the same injury he picked up tonight. The health concerns continued to pester the Baby-Faced Assassin as Curry would re-aggravate the foot during the pre-season in his sophomore year.
His second season would see his right ankle bear the brunt of his game, forcing him to miss 8 games and undergo off-season surgery. However, even after the procedure, his right foot would continue to cause problems for Steph, leading to just a 26-game showing during his third season.
That would lead Curry to taking his fitness more seriously. He worked with Keke Lyles, who was the Warriors’ Director of Performance from 2013 to 2015. After just a year of training with Lyles to strengthen his hips and glutes, the Chef had doubled his deadlift record from 200 lbs to 400 lbs, helping him maintain a clean bill of health and carry his team to four NBA championships over the last decade.
