SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors superstar Steph Curry avoided a serious injury scare Sunday that had thousands of fans holding their breath at Chase Center.
Sunday was the Warriors’ open practice, where fans flock to get a look at their favorite players in a relaxed environment. The Warriors went a little more intense than in years past but still kept it light. About 45 minutes in, there was a heaviness of a dark cloud hovering over the court when Curry limped his way to the locker room.
Curry went to make a move on De’Anthony Melton when his sneakers squeaked and his body got stuck. He tapped Melton, bounced the ball hard twice and favored his right leg limping to the sidelines. Curry caught his breath and then kept limping down the hallway and to the Warriors’ locker room.
The main concern was that Curry, 38, injured the same right knee that held him out for more than two months last season. Luckily for Curry and the Warriors, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Curry has a sprained right ankle, per the Warriors, and did not injure his knee.
“He said he’s fine,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after practice.
Kerr shared that he spoke with Curry in the training room and that he was in good spirits. No further diagnosis has been shared, nor has a conversation with the Warriors’ medical staff.
Like everybody in the building, Kerr certainly was worried for the worst when he first saw Curry in discomfort and admitted his heart skipped a beat.
“Always, always,” Kerr said. “He’s fine. I went and talked to him after he went downstairs, and I went in the training room. He’s doing fine.”
The Warriors have been cautious in Curry’s ramp-up leading to Wednesday’s regular-season opener in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Lakers. Less is more in making sure Curry is as healthy as possible entering his 18th season. He has scrimmaged less and has been part of fewer and fewer higher-intensity portions of practice.
Curry played a little under 18 minutes per game in the preseason and averaged 13 points while shooting 44 percent from the field (20 of 45) and 41.9 percent from three (13 of 31).
Gui Santos was on the floor when Curry came up short, but his fear wasn’t at an all-time high because of his teammate’s reaction.
“Of course we were scared,” Santos said. “But it’s Steph. He’s tough. He’s going to be good. Tomorrow he’s going to wake up and be good. We were definitely worried. … The way that I saw him walking off the court, I didn’t think it was something really bad.”
The Warriors already are being tested from a plethora of health problems. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody continue to rehab leg injuries, and an illness has kept Kristaps Porziņģis away from the team for the last three weeks. Curry wasn’t the only concern from Sunday’s open practice, too.
Brandin Podziemski and Charles Bassey did not participate. Bassey was seen having his right knee wrapped in ice, and the Warriors are saying he’s dealing with right knee tendinitis. Kerr did not know why Podziemski was absent but did confirm he practiced prior to the open session.
Now, it’s another game of wait and see on Curry’s health days before the regular season begins.
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