Warriors' Steph Curry remains sidelined with no timetable set for his return

The All-Star guard continues to deal with knee soreness, missing his sixth consecutive game.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 5:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss his sixth consecutive game on Thursday due to right kneecap soreness. Head coach Steve Kerr said Curry underwent evaluation by the team's training staff and might need another MRI, as there is no timetable for his return. The Warriors are 6-10 without Curry, who is averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season.

Why it matters

Curry's health is crucial for the Warriors, who are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference. The team's offense is significantly less efficient without Curry on the court, so his extended absence could impact their playoff positioning with 27 games left in the season.

The details

Curry's kneecap soreness, known as runner's knee, first emerged on January 24 during a workout in Minneapolis. He played through it for a few games before sitting out, and then aggravated the injury on January 30 against the Detroit Pistons. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nirav Pandya characterized runner's knee as an "annoying, aching feeling" that is difficult to manage, requiring rest and a decrease in workload to recover.

  • Curry's kneecap soreness first emerged on January 24 during a workout in Minneapolis.
  • Curry played through the injury for a few games before sitting out, and then aggravated it on January 30 against the Detroit Pistons.

The players

Stephen Curry

A 12-time NBA All-Star and the fulcrum of the Golden State Warriors' organization and offense, averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who said Curry might need another MRI and that there is no timetable for his return.

Kristaps Porzingis

A 7-foot-2 inch sharpshooting center for the Warriors who could provide some short-term relief with Curry out, having practiced on Wednesday with a questionable tag for Thursday's game.

Dr. Nirav Pandya

An orthopedic surgeon and UCSF sports medicine specialist who characterized runner's knee as an "annoying, aching feeling" that is difficult to manage.

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What they’re saying

“He knew it wasn't the right thing to go back into a full practice.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

“It's a little tricky and we're going to keep plugging away with it and Steph will take the right steps. Our training staff will continue to work with him and we'll see where it goes.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

“I feel good on the court. I want to get out there and feel good and start building on top of this and finish the year really strong. ... I'm looking forward now that I'm finally feeling good to just take it one step at a time. Build up with each game. More minutes, more this, more feeling better and better and better and see where I end up.”

— Kristaps Porzingis

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.