The Golden State Warriors may finally be nearing Stephen Curry’s return. After missing the last 18 games with a right knee injury, there is now “cautious optimism” that the franchise star could be back before the end of March.
That update came on Wednesday from ESPN’s Shams Charania, signaling a potential turning point in Golden State’s late-season push. With the Warriors currently sitting at 33-35 and ninth in the Western Conference, Curry’s status could define the rest of their season.
Encouraging Progress, But Key Date Looms
Charania reported that Curry’s recovery has recently taken a meaningful step forward following a strong on-court workout in Boston.
“There is cautious optimism that Stephen Curry will return to the line-up by the end of the month,” Charania said on NBA Today. “That’s after, I’m told, he had a strong on-court workout Tuesday afternoon in Boston, starting to run, cut, move, take some slight contact, like the Stephen Curry that we know.”
The update aligns with Golden State’s internal timeline, as Curry is scheduled to be re-evaluated around March 21. That checkpoint is critical. The Warriors typically require a full team practice before clearing a player to return, meaning Curry’s first opportunity to suit up would likely come shortly after that evaluation.
From a timeline standpoint, that places his realistic return window between March 23 and March 29, with the latter marking Golden State’s final game of the month against the Denver Nuggets.
There’s still uncertainty. Curry has not yet practiced with the team, and the injury itself, runner’s knee, has proven unpredictable in recovery. But the shift from individual workouts to controlled contact is a clear signal of progress.
Warriors Feeling the Impact Without Curry
The urgency behind Curry’s return is obvious when looking at the numbers. Golden State has gone 6-12 during his absence and is just 10-19 overall without him this season.
That stretch has dropped the Warriors into the Play-In Tournament picture, a far cry from their championship expectations entering the year.
Even with upcoming road matchups against Boston, Detroit, and Atlanta, the margin for error is shrinking. Golden State is running out of time to climb into a safer playoff position.
Curry’s production this season underscores his value. In 39 games, he is averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. Simply put, he remains the engine of the offense.
Curry Embracing the Long Game
Curry himself acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the injury in a recent in-game interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, emphasizing patience over urgency.
“This is a weird one,” Curry said. “It’s kind of unpredictable how it’ll heal. It’s going to be a little longer. Right now, with this one, it’s about each day, can you stack good days? I’ve done that. Hopefully they can unleash me on the court soon and hopefully get back sooner than later.”
He also highlighted the bigger picture as the playoffs approach.
“Trying to stay in shape, strengthen everything else around the body, knowing at this stage, once you get back, it’s a full sprint to the playoffs,” Curry said. “Once I get back on the court, it’s a little bit of a pain tolerance thing. But it’s just something you don’t want lingering because it can get worse.”
That balance, returning quickly versus returning fully healthy, will define Golden State’s decision-making over the next week.
The Warriors don’t just need Curry back, they need him at full strength. With roughly a dozen games left, his return could be the difference between a Play-In battle and a legitimate playoff run.