Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry spoke to Anthony Slater of ESPN about his ongoing right knee rehab and the recent acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis. “It’s trending in the right direction,” Curry said of his patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly called runner’s knee.
Curry, sidelined for the past two games, emphasized a patient approach to recovery. “It’s different than last year, but something that will heal,” he said, noting the need to monitor inflammation and pain to avoid setbacks.
The Warriors acquired Porzingis from Atlanta in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, adding size and skill to the roster. “I’m learning some Latvian,” Curry joked. “I’m just hoping that he’s healthy, first and foremost, so that he can do what he can do on the floor.”
Curry highlighted the familiarity between Porzingis and veteran center Al Horford. “Him and Al won a championship together. Different context, but there’s a familiarity and skill set and size and presence that we’ve been looking for a while.”
Asked about the front office’s trade decisions, Curry remained focused on the team’s challenges. “Deadline is always tricky because you are trying to make the right appropriate move and then everything is obviously in the context of Jimmy’s injury and what’s possible,” he said.
Curry acknowledged the loss of Jimmy Butler due to an ACL tear but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to remain competitive. “No, I’d rather have Jimmy Butler playing basketball. But it’s our hurdle to overcome as a team,” he said, reflecting on the squad’s current position at 28-24 and eighth in the Western Conference.
Despite limited NBA action recently, Curry praised Porzingis’ potential impact. “I’m excited with what KP can bring. You saw the fight tonight. We’ll learn each other as we go,” he said following the Warriors’ 101-97 comeback win over the Suns.
On managing his own recovery alongside team adjustments, Curry said, “It’s a matter of learning as I go what works rehab-wise. Because it’s still painful. You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain.”
