Stephen Curry has cleared another hurdle in his quest to return to action March 1, relays Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Team doctors cleared Curry for full contact and he participated in his first scrimmage today since breaking his left hand in late October.
Speaking with reporters afterward, the Warriors guard confirmed that he has set next Sunday as his target date to return to action. Although he will need another positive week of rehab to make that happen, all indications are that the healing process is nearly complete.
Curry explained the details of the injury, which involved nerve damage in addition to the break. That’s why his recovery time will be about four months, rather than the usual two when a clean break happens.
“This was a serious one that had a lot of nuances to it with the two surgeries and the nerve damage and stuff I’m still dealing with,” he said. “Everything is new. If it was an ankle thing, I’d tell you everything every step of the way.”
Curry also shared his memories of the play, which happened when Suns center Aron Baynes tried to take a charge on a drive to the basket. Both players fell to the court and Baynes landed directly on top of Curry’s hand, causing the damage. Because Curry is right-handed, the injury shouldn’t affect his shooting, but Slater notes that much of his game is based on the ability to dribble, pass and make layups with either hand.
“I’m getting used to what the new normal is,” Curry said of the recovery process. “It definitely feels different than the right (hand). But you try to get to the point when you’re playing basketball, you don’t think about it — whether it feels all the way same or not, it doesn’t really matter, as long as I’m not worried about the things I’m trying to do, the strength part of it and how it bounces back the next day after pushing it in contact stuff. … Anybody who has had surgery knows it takes a long time to get back to true normal. Functionally speaking, where I’m not out there on the court thinking about it, that’s where I’m trying to get it to.”
With Klay Thompson already sidelined with a torn ACL, Curry’s injury eliminated any chance the Warriors may have had to reach the playoffs. Golden State is focused on returning to title contention next season, and Curry believes the team added an important piece in the deadline deal that brought Andrew Wiggins from the Timberwolves.
“I’ve been watching and seeing what he’s capable of on a nightly basis,” Curry said. “He’s a walking 20 points. The intangibles he can bring, in terms of speed, cutting, length on defense, all those things, will be a fun process to build that chemistry. This is a 15-month journey to spring next year.”
At first I read that as a player named Curry Scrimmages.
Finally the NBA is real again. Watch ratings go up. #StephBetter
The nba is now real again? Ok
When you live in S4’s Kingdom Of Delusion, reality comes and goes.
Delusion? NBA’s ratings are down this year. Look it up. Also stop talking.
What color is the sky in your world, slick?
The sky is yellow and royal blue in Warriors World.
As real as ever, however real that is.
It would be pretty cool if he played a couple rehab games in Santa Cruz. I don’t know if that’s even contractually possible, but I’d go down to the tent and watch that.
Confirms dumb decision.
Sincerely,
Boogie.
I wonder if this is just to help sell tickets at the new arena.
They have been targeting this date for awhile now. Every team wants to sell tickets.
Aw gee the multi millionaire is almost ready to chuck some 3s at a hoop! #GTFOH
Steph is better than Lebron.
Steph has better numbers in the NBA finals than Kobe.
Steph. Curry. Changed. The Game.
Bron cant say that, MJ cant say that.
#StephBetter
No he didn’t. Steph is nothing without Klay. MJ always had Pippen. Kobe always had a HOF Center. Magic always had Kareem. The NBA changed when hand checking was taken out and it just became Duke basketball. Live and die by the 3 and Zone defense.
Kobe or Lebron would not lost a final series they were up 3-1 in LMAO. Curry is a hall of famer but to act like he is a transcendent god is ridiculous.
Steph did change the game, but so did LeBron and Jordan.
When LeBron made “The Decision” it also changed the game.
Jordan made iso-ball popular and caused an entire generation following him to try to be “like Mike”
As great as Steph is he’s never had as a proound of impact as Jordan or LeBron.
Steph is one of the worst clutch shooters ever. Look it up.
That is in the playoffs, when it counts the most.
Curry is still better than Brandon Ingram.
Curry is better than Ingram. But only delusional Warriors fans think that Steph is better than Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Harden, Durant, Magic, Kareem, Hakeem, Duncan, Bill Russell, Shaq, Wilt, Oscar, etc.
Left out Bird
I’m not a Warriors fan but I’ll give you all those guys being better than Steph but Harden. (Although I’d argue Steph over Robertson but it’s close)
What has Harden done other than score a lot of meaningless points? I think Harden is very good but I’d take Steph in his prime over Harden in his prime any day.
He can’t make an argument that doesn’t involve Harden being better than Curry. Harden and Curry are equal until you count rings.
By Wednesday a “setback” will be announced and he will be out for the season.
More like draymond gets the injury bug and is out for the year.
Wiggins reminds me of Harrison Barnes who used to play with the Warriors; hope Wiggins is more consistent.
Not for nothing… but how is Wiggins not averaging 35? There is no one on the Warriors squad right now.