Warriors Get Concerning Stephen Curry Injury Detail

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Steph Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships.

The Golden State Warriors have been managing Stephen Curry‘s runner’s knee for weeks.

But a story shared by ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson on the Road Trippin’ podcast reveals just how uncomfortable Curry has been. Jefferson was courtside for the Warriors-Lakers game three games before the All-Star break. He watched Curry stand and cheer for his teammates the entire night. Jefferson thought it was a display of great leadership.

Then Curry told him the truth.

What Jefferson Said About Curry’s Knee

GettyESPN NBA analyst Richard Jefferson.

Jefferson shared the exchange on his podcast.

“We did the Warriors-Lakers game and Steph was standing up cheering the entire time,” Jefferson said. “I’m like ‘Look at Steph, what a great teammate’, just cheering on his guys. So he comes over and says ‘What’s up?’ and I’m like ‘Steph man, what’s going on man? You’ve been cheering the whole game.’ He’s like ‘Yeah, because if I sit down, it hurts’. So that just shows you what he’s dealing with.”

That is the most telling detail about Curry’s injury that has been made public.

Standing is more comfortable than sitting. That means the patellofemoral pain syndrome Curry is dealing with is affecting him even when he is not moving. Runner’s knee typically causes discomfort during activity. But if sitting down increases the pain, the inflammation is significant.

Curry has now missed 11 games with the injury. He was shut down after attempting to play through it in late January. After the All-Star break, he returned to the team facility and tried to participate in a scrimmage. He could not. A second MRI showed no structural damage but revealed bone bruising. The Warriors announced he would be re-evaluated in 10 days.

The timeline for his return remains uncertain. But Jefferson’s story explains why the Warriors are being cautious. Curry is not just dealing with minor discomfort. He is in enough pain that sitting down hurts.

Why This Matters for the Warriors

GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.

The Warriors need Curry healthy for the playoffs.

Golden State sits at 29-27 and holds the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They are 6-11 without Curry this season. The offense stalls when he is not on the floor. Kristaps Porzingis is still building his conditioning. Draymond Green is not a scoring threat. The supporting cast is inconsistent.

But rushing Curry back makes no sense if sitting down causes him pain, as Jefferson suggested. Runner’s knee requires rest and inflammation management. Pushing through it only makes it worse. The Warriors learned that lesson in late January when Curry tried to play and had to leave a game early.

Jefferson’s account offers context for what Curry is managing while sidelined. The Warriors have described the injury as runner’s knee with inflammation and bone bruising, and Curry acknowledged that sitting aggravates the discomfort.

Curry will be re-evaluated March 1, with March 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers as the earliest possible return date. For now, Golden State is continuing to prioritize rest and recovery as he works back.

Final Word for the Warriors

Richard Jefferson shared a revealing story about Stephen Curry’s knee that adds context to what the Warriors have been managing.

Curry told Jefferson he stands during games because sitting aggravates the discomfort in his knee. It was a candid detail that illustrates how persistent the irritation has been, even while the team has described the injury as manageable inflammation and bone bruising.

Golden State has taken a cautious approach with Curry’s recovery, and the timeline reflects that. Runner’s knee can be unpredictable, particularly when inflammation lingers. The Warriors have emphasized rest and gradual progression rather than rushing him back.

Curry also provided his own update Friday to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson.

“Feeling good. I mean, it’s not going the way that I wanted it to, but I think we’re in the right direction of trying to get back out there as fast as possible. The goal is to be healthy come playoff time.”

That comment reinforces the plan. The priority is not a short-term return. It is long-term availability.

Curry wants to play. But the focus remains on ensuring he is right when it matters most.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins