Golden State Warriors general manager Larry Riley said point guard Stephen Curry is likely done for the season.
Curry’s sprained right ankle, which has kept him out of the lineup the last 22 games, was re-evaluated Monday night. Riley said Curry’s ankle, though it is showing signs of progress, still isn’t 100 percent.
“It doesn’t appear he’ll get there by this (coming road) trip,” Riley said. “So it’s doubtful he’ll return this season.” By season’s end, he will have missed 40 games. That’s a grand total of 48 games missed over the last two seasons due to that right ankle.
The three-game road trip, which starts Friday in Dallas, was Curry’s last chance to play a meaningful stretch of games this season. Even if Curry were 100 percent when the team returned from the trip, Riley said he sees “no point” in playing Curry for just the final two games of the season.
“He still wants to play,” Riley said, “but he understands he’s not 100 percent.” Riley said Curry hasn’t gotten all his strength and mobility back in his right ankle.
Curry went to see renowned specialist Richard Ferkle in the Los Angeles on March 22. Using Ferkle’s analysis, the input of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim McAdams and the Warriors medical staff, the Warriors decided to give Curry two weeks more of rest and rehab before testing his ankle again.
Riley said Monday’s examination was encouraging, because Curry’s ankle is improving. But it also killed Curry’s last chance of playing this season.
Curry, who is due a contract extension this offseason, was hoping to play so he could finish was hoping to play to end on a good note.
“It’s obviously a long time ‘til October or whenever training camp would start back up,” Curry said late last month. “That’s a long time to not log some minutes in an actual game. We’re obviously a long way away from a playoff spot, so I don’t think that’s a … we’re still competing and we’re still going out there and play. So if I’m ready to go, it’s my job to go out there and play.”
