Stephen Curry to Miss All-Star Game with Knee Injury | Golden State Warriors News

Stephen Curry to Miss All-Star Game with Lingering Knee Injury

SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will not participate in this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game due to a persistent right knee issue, the team announced Monday night. Warriors coach Steve Kerr revealed the news prior to the team’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, marking the fourth consecutive game Curry has been sidelined with patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner’s knee.

Curry will also miss the Warriors’ upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The team expressed hope that he will be able to return to the lineup after the All-Star break, with their first game back scheduled for February 19th at home against the Boston Celtics.

“It’s a matter of learning as I go what works rehab-wise,” Curry told ESPN, describing the challenges of managing the injury. “Because it’s still painful. You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain. It’s something we still have to monitor and injury-manage, but it’s something where, if I come back too early, it could flare up.”

The knee problem initially surfaced two weeks ago during an individual workout. Curry attempted to play through the discomfort in the games following the initial flare-up, but ultimately exited a home loss to the Detroit Pistons in the third quarter, visibly limping as he left the court.

Curry joins Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as All-Stars who will be absent from the showcase game in Los Angeles. Gilgeous-Alexander is out due to an abdominal strain.

The NBA has yet to announce who will replace Curry on Team USA for the All-Star Game. The league is also considering replacements for Gilgeous-Alexander, with Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün already named as his replacement on the “World” team.

The All-Star format this season features a three-team event, moving away from the traditional East versus West matchup. The teams consist of two U.S. Teams and one “World” team. Commissioner Adam Silver has already added Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard to Team USA to ensure each team has eight players, suggesting further roster adjustments are likely.

Curry, a 37-year-old veteran, is averaging 27.2 points per game this season, his highest average since the 2022-23 season. He currently leads the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (4.0) and boasts a 93% free throw percentage. His absence is a significant blow to the Warriors, who are currently 28-25 and eighth in the Western Conference.

The Warriors are already navigating the season without forward Jimmy Butler, who underwent surgery earlier Monday to repair a torn ACL. The team had reportedly been exploring the possibility of pairing Curry with another star player, potentially Milwaukee Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, to bolster their championship aspirations.

The situation with Giannis Antetokounmpo remains uncertain, with reports suggesting he may also sit out the All-Star Game. If Antetokounmpo also withdraws, the World team would have nine players, including him.