The Golden State Warriors find themselves at a pivotal crossroads as the 2025-26 NBA season resumes after the All-Star break, with injuries and new faces shaping the team’s immediate future. The biggest story swirling around the Bay Area centers on the health of Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ iconic guard, who remains sidelined due to ongoing right knee issues. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for the debut of Kristaps Porziņģis, the newly acquired big man, as the Warriors gear up for a high-profile showdown with the Boston Celtics.
Curry, 37, has missed the last six games, including Thursday’s marquee matchup against Boston, due to what the Warriors are now officially calling “runner’s knee”—patella-femoral pain syndrome with bone bruising. The saga began late last month, when Curry started experiencing persistent knee discomfort. Despite initial hopes for a quick return after the All-Star break, Curry’s absence has extended longer than many expected, leaving fans and teammates alike anxiously awaiting updates.
On Wednesday night, Curry underwent a fresh MRI to assess the extent of his injury. According to a Warriors team source and ESPN’s reporting, the scan returned “clean,” confirming there is no structural damage in Curry’s right knee. The team announced that Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days from February 18, 2026, putting his earliest possible return around February 28. While the clean MRI offers some relief, the Warriors remain cautious, opting to keep Curry out as he continues to manage symptoms and work through his rehab process.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice, sharing insight into Curry’s recovery. “He came back today, and he just wasn’t quite feeling right,” Kerr said. “These guys know when they’re right and when they’re not, and he knew it wasn’t the right thing to go back into a full practice.” Kerr described the situation as “a little nebulous,” emphasizing the tricky nature of runner’s knee. “But that’s the nature of the injury … it’s a little tricky, and we’re gonna keep plugging away with it. Steph will take the right steps, the training staff will continue to work with him and we’ll see where it goes.”
Curry’s prolonged absence has significant implications for the Warriors’ season. Thursday’s game marks his 17th missed contest of the year, and, perhaps more notably, it guarantees that Curry will fall short of the NBA’s 65-game minimum for postseason honors. That rules him out of All-NBA consideration for the first time since 2020, when he played just five games due to a broken hand. The Warriors’ playoff hopes rest heavily on Curry’s return, and Kerr didn’t mince words about his importance: “It’s rather critical,” Kerr admitted. “Obviously, we know the drill. We have to have Steph if we expect to do anything. So it’s one of the reasons we held him out tonight. We’ve got to be certain, he’s got to be certain.”
In the meantime, the Warriors are looking to reinforce their lineup with a much-anticipated addition. Kristaps Porziņģis, acquired just before the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks, practiced fully on Wednesday and is hopeful to make his Warriors debut against the Celtics. Porziņģis hasn’t played since January 7 due to his own health issues, but both he and the team are optimistic about his readiness. “I’m feeling excellent,” Porziņģis declared after practice. “The scrimmage went well. We didn’t play too much, but just enough to get a feel for the game and a feel for each other on the court and (Thursday), back at it … I’m feeling good. Ready to go.”
Kerr echoed that optimism while noting that Porziņģis will be on a minutes restriction as he works his way back into game shape. “He’ll be up to speed,” Kerr said. “There’s only a handful of plays that he has to kind of memorize. Most of it is conceptual. He’s a basketball player. He understands where to be, spacing, all that kind of stuff. So I don’t think it will be long.” Porziņģis, who played two seasons with the Celtics before joining the Warriors, acknowledged the oddity of making his debut against his former team. “Weird,” he said. “If somebody said that while we’re in Boston that this was going to be the scenario, who would believe this? But this is how it works. Obviously, we expected for Boston to have some changes with the money stuff, but it’s going to be weird.”
Porziņģis also took a moment to praise Draymond Green, calling him “super, super experienced. Very vocal. I love Draymond, man. I could see how important he is for this team … cool to see him close up.” His presence is expected to help shore up the Warriors’ frontcourt, especially with the team missing key contributors due to injury.
Speaking of injuries, the Warriors’ backcourt woes extend beyond Stephen Curry. Seth Curry, Steph’s younger brother, remains out with a sciatica issue that has kept him sidelined for the past two months and will continue to do so as he rehabs. The team’s depth will be tested as they navigate a challenging stretch of the schedule, with 27 regular-season games remaining and a playoff berth still within reach.
The upcoming clash with the Celtics carries extra significance for several Warriors. Al Horford, now with Golden State after two separate stints and seven seasons in Boston, expressed his excitement about facing his former teammates and coaches. “It’s exciting for me,” Horford said. “Just from a standpoint that I get to see a lot of people that I care about and we’ll compete on the court and that goes on and then after being able to catch up with a lot of people that are just very special to me. So for me, it’s a lot of excitement, and my son’s been raving about seeing a lot of the guys and seeing a lot of the coaches. It will be cool. It will be cool to see everyone.”
As the Warriors prepare for this crucial matchup, the mood in the locker room is one of cautious optimism. The team hopes Porziņģis can make an immediate impact, even in a limited role, while Curry continues his rehab. Kerr summed up the situation best: “We really feel strongly that Kristaps can help us and we can hold down the fort while we’re waiting on Steph.”
With the season entering its final stretch, all eyes are on the Warriors’ evolving lineup and the health of their superstar guard. The next ten days will be critical in determining whether Curry can return and propel Golden State back into serious contention. For now, Warriors fans will have to wait and see if Porziņģis’ arrival can spark a much-needed surge as the playoff race intensifies.