He did not play on April 9 against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Warriors opting to sit him on the front end of a back-to-back as part of a controlled recovery plan. The decision was tied to his return from a prolonged absence.

Head coach Steve Kerr and the team’s medical staff have prioritized keeping his healthy for the Play-In Tournament, rather than pushing him in low-stakes regular-season games. His workload is being carefully managed.

Is Stephen Curry injured or being rested?

Stephen Curry is not fully injured but is being managed due to a right knee issue, with the team resting him. According to the injury report, he was listed out for the April 9 game vs. the Lakers due to “right knee injury management”.

The issue is related to what has been described as runner’s knee, the same condition that previously sidelined him for an extended stretch earlier this season. After missing 27 consecutive games, he returned earlier in April but has been on a restricted workload and minutes limit since then.

Golden State’s approach has been cautious rather than reactive. Instead of pushing him through back-to-backs or low-priority games, they have opted to rest him intermittently to avoid aggravating the injury.

When will Stephen Curry return to play?

Stephen Curry’s return date is now expected for tonight’s game, with the Golden State Warriors evaluating his status on a game-by-game basis. Although he had missed time, he is now in line to make his return today.

Head coach Steve Kerr and the medical staff have emphasized a day-to-day evaluation, meaning his status depends on how his knee responds to recovery and treatment between games. There is no indication of a long-term setback.

The timing is key: with the Play-In Tournament approaching, Golden State is prioritizing having him at full strength rather than risking further irritation. That’s why his availability remains game-time dependent.

As expected, after the game James was asked whether this could have been the last opportunity to face Curry considering retirement could be very close. It seems very unlikely that the Lakers and Warriors will meet in the playoffs and they couldn’t face each other during the regular season.

“We actually talked about it a little bit. We both didn’t even realize it until today. I was like: ‘We haven’t played against each other this year.’ I didn’t even realize that until actually seeing it and they broke down the games. We never know. We don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know if we’ll get the opportunity to play against each other.”

Will LeBron James retire after this season?

It is still unknown whether LeBron James will retire at the end of this season. Therefore, despite not being able to face Curry, the Lakers star admitted that he cherishes the moments with Steph. “It’s always a pleasure. It’s always an honor just to be in his presence and to be on the floor with him when we have in the past.”

Have the Lakers clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs?

Yes. The Lakers have clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs, and the only thing left to determine is their position in the Western Conference. Everything points to the No. 4 or No. 5 seed, making a matchup with Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets very likely.

The latest injury reports from the NBA indicate that the point guard is being closely monitored after returning from a knee injury, with his status hinging on a final pregame evaluation.

In the case of the Lakers forward, the medical staff has cleared him to play after evaluating his lingering foot discomfort, with the decision reflecting confidence in his recovery while continuing to monitor his workload.

How and when did LeBron James get injured?

LeBron James did not suffer a single clear in-game injury, but is currently dealing with ongoing left foot injury management that has affected his availability late in the season.

According to the latest reports ahead of the April 9 matchup between the Lakers and the Warriors, the veteran forward has been listed under injury management protocols rather than a specific new injury diagnosis.

The Lakers have been careful with his workload throughout the final stretch of the regular season, especially as the team battles multiple injuries across the roster. His status has fluctuated between probable and questionable depending on scheduling and recovery needs.

How and when did Stephen Curry get injured?

Stephen Curry suffered a right knee injury in late January 2026 during a game against the Detroit Pistons, when he experienced a flare-up of patellofemoral pain that forced the Golden State Warriors to immediately shut him down.

According to ESPN reports, the issue was diagnosed as a wear-and-tear condition rather than a single traumatic play, but it escalated enough to require extended rest.

The medical staff quickly ruled him out for the remainder of that matchup and began a rehabilitation plan focused on reducing inflammation and managing chronic stress on the joint.

He ended up missing more than two months of action, sitting out 27 games as Golden State carefully managed his recovery. He returned in April 2026 and has since been gradually reintegrated into the rotation.

How has Stephen Curry performed this season?

Stephen Curry has averaged 27.0 points per game across the 2025–26 season, maintaining elite production for the Golden State Warriors despite missing significant time due to a right knee injury.

According to official NBA statistical tracking via ESPN, he has also added around 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game when on the floor. Before his injury, he was among the league leaders in scoring efficiency and three-point shooting volume, ranking first in made threes at 4.5 per game.

His offensive impact remained unchanged even in his 17th season, continuing to serve as the Warriors’ primary scoring engine. In his early games back, he has shown typical scoring bursts while still working to regain full rhythm following a two-month absence.

How has LeBron James performed this season?

LeBron James has averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game during the 2025–26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, continuing to produce at a high level in his 23rd NBA season.

He remains one of the most productive all-around players in the NBA, contributing as both a primary facilitator and secondary scorer depending on the Lakers’ roster availability.

His playmaking numbers remain especially strong, reflecting his continued role as the team’s offensive organizer. Even with reduced physical load in certain stretches, he has maintained consistent production whenever active.

He is likely to be available for the Golden State Warriors against the Sacramento Kings. The star guard logged 26 minutes and scored 29 points in his comeback, and they are expected to continue managing his workload as he ramps back up.

Even with that strong return, the Warriors are approaching his minutes with caution. The NBA team is prioritizing his health ahead of the Play-In Tournament, gradually increasing his time on the floor.

How and when did Stephen Curry get injured?

Stephen Curry suffered his injury in late January, dealing with a persistent right knee issue diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome that sidelined him for over a month and forced him to miss 27 games before returning in early April.

His injury dates back to late January, when he began experiencing discomfort in his right knee and attempted to play through it before being ruled out. The condition—commonly known as “runner’s knee”—causes pain and swelling around the kneecap, making it difficult to maintain explosiveness and mobility.

As the issue worsened, the Golden State Warriors shut him down completely after January 30, beginning a long recovery process. He underwent multiple evaluations, with MRIs showing no structural damage but continued inflammation and discomfort, which delayed his return multiple times.

How has Stephen Curry performed this season?

Stephen Curry has averaged around 27.2 points and 4.8 assists per game this season, remaining one of the NBA’s top offensive players despite his injury setbacks. He was once again performing at an elite level, leading the team offensively and maintaining one of the highest scoring averages of his career.

His 27+ points per game place him among the league’s top scorers, highlighting his continued impact even in his late 30s. His absence, however, significantly affected the team’s performance.

Without him, the franchise struggled to find consistent scoring and went 9–18 during the stretch he was sidelined, underscoring just how vital he is to the Warriors’ system and overall competitiveness.

Since returning, he has quickly reminded everyone of his value. In his first game back, he scored 29 points in just 26 minutes, showing efficiency and rhythm. The Warriors are now focused on gradually increasing his minutes.

Shaquille O’Neal appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he was initially asked whether it is unfair to compare different eras. The legendary center agreed, using the example of himself and Wilt Chamberlain.

“Try to put me up against a Wilt, his era versus my era, me personally, I think I would have completely dominated him. So I like to break it down by eras, but when you talk about that GOAT conversations, I would like to hear all the names, and I’m about to add one more name, because he’s unbelievable, rather just going Mike and LeBron…Got to put Kobe in there,” O’Neal said.

“And now I’m standing here on the Pat McAfee show, got to put Steph Curry in it,” O’Neal continued. “The only thing Steph Curry has not done that those other guys have done is the finishing dunk. Think about what I’m saying. Like all the other guys, they have a finishing dunk play, but Steph Curry, behind that line, the impact is similar to a finishing dunk, but you definitely got to put him as one of the greatest players of all time.”

Why Curry and Kobe deserve to be in the GOAT debate?

Kobe Bryant was the closest competitor to Michael Jordan in terms of playing style and mental toughness, known for the “Mamba Mentality.” With five championship rings, one more than LeBron James and one fewer than Jordan, Kobe proved he could win across different stages of his career, first alongside Shaquille O’Neal and later as the unquestioned leader in 2009 and 2010.

His 12 All-Defensive Team selections surpassed those of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, strengthening his case as one of the most complete players on both ends of the floor in NBA history.

On the other hand, Stephen Curry deserved a place in the debate not only for his four championships and two MVP awards, including the only unanimous MVP in NBA history, but also for transforming the way basketball is played. Before Curry, the three-point shot was a complementary weapon; after him, it became the primary offensive tool across the league.

His ability to score from virtually anywhere forced defenses to completely adjust. His impact went beyond statistics, as he led a tactical revolution that even players like LeBron James did not achieve at the same transformative level.

Stephen Curry spoke about what it meant to him during his postgame press conference. “That was special,” Stephen said, via 95.7 The Game. “And we’ve both had a very difficult year. Honestly, him more than me with injuries, and I was joking, calling us the rehab brothers ’cause it’s been like that all year. But to have that moment coming out of a timeout and talking about our matchups, and I was having flashbacks to Charlotte Christian High School, my senior year, his sophomore year.

“That was the last time in an actual game, I know he was on our training camp roster in 2013, but last time we actually played a game together,” Stephen continued, mentioning the injuries both have dealt with and the hope that they can now be seen together more often, especially after Steve Kerr provided a positive update on Steph’s injury.

The special moment for the Curry brothers

They stepped on the court together as teammates at the 6:19 mark of the second quarter. Stephen Curry and Seth Curry made history in the process, as it was the first time two brothers had played together for the Warriors in a regular-season game. It was not the first time they had shared the court in a game for the team, though.

The Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Four years later, they signed Seth Curry to a non-guaranteed contract after he went undrafted in 2013. The younger Curry appeared in six preseason games for the Warriors in 2013 and played alongside his older brother for 100 seconds.

The Golden State Warriors reunited the brothers when they signed Seth Curry to a one-year deal on Oct. 1, 2025. They waived the 35-year-old later that month, but with the intention of signing him again later in the NBA season. The Warriors then signed Seth for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on Dec. 1, and he made his team debut a day later against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Their performance in the game together

Stephen Curry finished with 29 points on 11-21 shooting from the field, along with two rebounds, four assists, and one steal in his long-awaited return. The 12-time All-Star had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but missed a long three-pointer.

As for Seth Curry, he recorded six points on 1-3 shooting and one steal on the night as the Golden State Warriors fell to 36-42. They face the Sacramento Kings next at Chase Center on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.

Coach Steve Kerr provided an update on Curry’s process as he returned from the knee injury. “Kerr says Steph is feeling good the first day after his first game back. He’ll be right around 25 minutes again tomorrow,” Nick Friedell wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Kerr says the hope is to ramp him up a little more by the end of the week. They still haven’t decided which side of back-to-back Steph will sit.”

In the loss to the Rockets, Stephen Curry came off the bench and played 29 minutes, recording a team-high 29 points on 11-21 shooting from the field, along with four assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

How Curry felt in his return

Stephen Curry now has to focus on regaining rhythm and taking care of his body ahead of the play-in race, which will not be easy and would be a consecutive scenario considering they were in the same position last year.

If there was one thing for sure in the loss to Houston, the Golden State Warriors were energized to have their top player back, though there was some rust early on, as Curry admitted.

“First run was tough. Second run was great,” Curry said after the game, according to Kenzo Fukada. “It’s not as much rust as it’s the endurance. Kind of picking and choosing a little bit of your spots to maintain. It’s not like you’re going 100 miles per hour the whole time. I’m just feeling it out. But after I traveled and got my shot blocked, the first two possessions, I kind of settled in.”

Curry looks to continue ramping up his recovery in Golden State’s next NBA game on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings. It is already difficult for the Warriors to push for the eighth seed, trying to avoid a first-round matchup against the Thunder if they get through the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns, or Los Angeles Clippers.

The last time Curry came off the bench in a regular-season game was 14 years ago, in a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 7, 2012, a remarkable statistic that highlights just how consistent and pivotal he has been for the Warriors.

Curry entered the game with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, marking his return after missing nearly two months and a total of 27 consecutive games due to a persistent knee injury.

Curry’s return brings excitement

The return of Steph immediately boosted the Warriors’ outlook, especially with Kristaps Porzingis and even his brother Seth Curry also back in the lineup, giving the team a morale boost ahead of the play-in. Coach Steve Kerr knows the impact Curry has.

“These last 12 years have really shown that we’ve been able to play a really entertaining style and win championships. Frankly, Steph is responsible for more of that than anyone. One of the greatest players of all time, but he’s the greatest face of a franchise in any sport that I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said before the match against Rockets.

“We want to bring joy to this building, we want to bring joy to our fans, that’s what this is about. It’s about winning, yes, but it’s about people really enjoying coming to the building and watching our team play. It’s the most important thing,” Kerr added, raising expectations for the team.

Warriors struggle without Curry

Curry leads the Warriors in scoring with 27.2 points per game, and his absence has been noticeable. Golden State (36-41) had lost three straight games overall and went 13-25 this NBA season without Curry, including a 9-18 stretch while he was sidelined by patellofemoral pain syndrome.

“It feels great,” Curry said of the patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee that sidelined him for the past 27 games. “It’s been a long, long process, longer than I thought. But just happy to have a little clarity and a little window to get back out there and try to get to the level I was playing at and finish the year strong. I’m excited.”

After 64 days of reorganizing injury timelines, reconfiguring recovery plans, and passing physical checkpoints, Stephen Curry is finally ready to return to the Golden State Warriors. He was listed as questionable for the game against the Rockets.

Curry’s presence likely for Sunday

Curry will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Houston Rockets, but the plan is for him to play, according to coach Steve Kerr.

Regardless, Curry’s likely return marks a much-needed boost for the Warriors. With Curry sidelined, Golden State went 9-18, dropping from the eighth seed in the West to 10th, where they will need to win two play-in games to save their season. Curry’s recovery process, however, has been just as frustrating as the team’s struggles.

“I thought I was going to be out for like, a week, 10 days max. Let it calm down,” Curry explained. “And every time I got on the court or tried to push it in that first month, there was always, they call it, a reaction, or you knew it just wasn’t healing as fast as you thought.

“So the patience then was tough, just because it’s one of those injuries that you really just have to let rest. There’s nothing you can kind of push through or be on the court while it’s healing, and it’s just a different experience than most injuries that I’ve had.”

Curry’s absence forced the Warriors to rely on depth and defensive intensity to remain competitive. While results were inconsistent, the team managed to stay in the playoff picture, keeping themselves within reach of a meaningful late-season surge once their star was ready to return.

Now, with the postseason approaching, Curry’s potential comeback could dramatically change expectations. Golden State’s offense has lacked the usual spacing and rhythm, and his presence would immediately reshape the team’s outlook entering the NBA Play-In.

When will Stephen Curry return for the Warriors?

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Curry’s return could happen very soon. “Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is expected to be cleared to return on Sunday against the Houston Rockets after missing over two months and 27 consecutive games due to a persistent knee injury, sources tell me and Anthony Slater.”

The Warriors currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference and have secured a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Their potential opponents include the Suns, Blazers, and Clippers, making Curry’s availability even more significant as they prepare for elimination-style games.

If Curry is cleared as expected, the Warriors would regain their primary offensive engine at the perfect time. With the Play-In looming, his return could be the difference between an early exit and a deeper postseason push.

Power forward Draymond Green addressed concerns from fans about the team potentially bringing Curry back just days before the play-in tournament. “There’s a lot of fear growing that Steph Curry might not have enough runway for the play-in game… I don’t think Steph’s getting shut down for the season… If Steph is capable of playing, he’s gonna play,” said Green, per The Draymond Green Show on X.

The Warriors had been trying and failing to weather the storm with Curry sidelined due to injury, falling to four games below .500 after a recent loss against the San Antonio Spurs. The positive news was that Curry was expected to return to the lineup that weekend when the Warriors took the floor against the Houston Rockets.

Difficult moments for the Warriors

The Warriors need to climb at least a few spots to improve their play-in positioning. They are likely to win two straight elimination games to secure a playoff matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is far from ideal for a 38-year-old Curry who had not played in two months while recovering from a knee issue.

However, as Green pointed out, the team would not have brought Curry back or risked his long-term health unless they had felt he was ready to play.

The Warriors sat in tenth place in the Western Conference and are projected to face the Portland Trail Blazers on the road in the play-in if the standings hold. In the meantime, they are set to return to action Thursday night in a challenging home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

What did Curry say about his return?

Curry had provided updates on his condition, and there was significant attention surrounding his timeline. He made it clear that nothing was certain and that he did not know how his knee would respond, suggesting he was not fully ready.

“It felt great. I’m checking the boxes,” Curry told reporters after the session. “But with this, it’s always unpredictable. I don’t know how the knee will respond because it hasn’t responded well in past attempts to get to this 5 on 5 level.” Curry had been sidelined for two months, dealing with a setback in a season marked by injuries.