Warriors Cautious on Curry's Return After 'Good' Scrimmage

Stephen Curry looked sharp in his return to 5-on-5 action, but the team and medical experts warn the path forward remains uncertain.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:19pm

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Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry returned to full-contact scrimmage this week, describing the session as a 'positive step forward.' However, both Curry and the team have emphasized the unpredictability of his recovery, with a medical expert noting the key concern is how Curry's knee responds over several days of increased intensity, not just a single scrimmage. The Warriors are taking a measured approach, with head coach Steve Kerr stressing that the 'next few days are really, really important' as they evaluate Curry's status for a potential return as soon as this Sunday.

Why it matters

The Warriors have gone 9-16 during Curry's absence, sliding to the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference and needing to win two elimination games to advance to the playoffs. Curry's return would be a major boost, but the team is prioritizing sustained progress over short-term gains as they navigate a tight upcoming schedule.

The details

In Tuesday's scrimmage, Curry said his knee 'felt great' but acknowledged the unpredictability that has defined his recovery, noting his knee 'hasn't responded well in the past attempts to get to this five-on-five level.' Medical expert Nirav Pandya emphasized the key concern is how Curry's knee holds up over several days of increased activity, not just a single session. Kerr called the scrimmage a 'good day' but stressed that the 'next few days are really, really important' as the team continues to monitor Curry's progress.

  • Curry returned to full-contact scrimmage on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
  • The Warriors face a back-to-back against the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers before a potential return on Sunday, April 6, 2026 against the Houston Rockets.

The players

Stephen Curry

The star point guard of the Golden State Warriors, who has been sidelined with a knee injury and is working his way back to full strength.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who is overseeing Curry's recovery and emphasizing a measured approach to his return.

Nirav Pandya

A professor of orthopedic surgery at UCSF and the director of pediatric sports medicine, who provided medical insight on the key concerns with Curry's recovery.

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What they’re saying

“It felt great. I'm checking the boxes. But with this, it's always unpredictable because I don't know how the knee will respond because it hasn't responded well in the past attempts to get to this five-on-five level.”

— Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Player

“It can feel great after one or two scrimmages. But the return to high-level NBA games can cause symptoms to flare back up.”

— Nirav Pandya, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UCSF

“Yeah, today was a good day... he got out on the floor, played 5-on-5 and looked good. But it's one good day... the next few days are really, really important.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

What’s next

The Warriors will continue to closely monitor Curry's progress over the next few days, with a potential return as soon as Sunday, April 6, 2026 against the Houston Rockets.

The takeaway

Curry's return would be a major boost for the Warriors as they fight to secure a playoff spot, but the team and medical experts are emphasizing the need for caution and sustained progress, rather than rushing Curry back too soon and risking further setbacks.