Stephen Curry cleared for scrimmage as Warriors star takes major step toward return
Injury Update - Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry participated in his first five-on-five scrimmage Tuesday after missing 25 consecutive games with a persistent right knee injury, marking significant progress in his recovery process.
Mar 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) on the court during a break against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Stephen Curry finally received the medical clearance he’s been waiting for. After weeks of cautious rehabilitation, the Golden State Warriors star was given the green light to participate in a five-on-five scrimmage Tuesday afternoon, representing the most significant milestone in his recovery from a persistent right knee injury.
« It felt great, » Curry told ESPN after the scrimmage. « 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. I’m right where I need to be for right now and I’m hoping that it continues until the weekend. »
A cautious approach to recovery
The Warriors have maintained an extremely careful approach throughout Curry’s rehabilitation process. Rick Celebrini, the franchise’s lead medical decision maker, has prioritized long-term health over immediate return, limiting Curry’s training sessions to the weight room and individual work for weeks.
Curry first experienced pain and swelling in his right knee after a workout in Minneapolis on January 24th. After attempting to play through the discomfort for several games, he was forced to leave the Warriors’ home loss to the Detroit Pistons on January 30th in the third quarter and hasn’t played since.
The initial timeline suggested a return after the All-Star break, but Curry’s knee didn’t respond well to on-court work during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. Even last week, when Curry pushed for scrimmage clearance, Celebrini held firm until Tuesday morning’s final approval.
Warriors struggling without their superstar
The impact of Curry’s absence has been devastating for Golden State’s playoff hopes. The Warriors currently sit at 36-39, having lost 16 of their last 25 games without their franchise player. They occupy the 10th seed in the Western Conference, trapped in the bottom side of the play-in bracket.
« Gotta see how [his body] responds to the scrimmage and we’ll take it from there, » Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Kerr noted that the gym was « bouncier » and everyone’s « spirits were lifted » with Curry’s on-court presence during practice.
Curry will miss his 26th and 27th consecutive games against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. His earliest possible return date is Sunday night at home against the Houston Rockets, contingent on how his body responds to increased workload. The Warriors’ internal hope is providing Curry with a « runway » of games before the play-in tournament, where they’ll need to win two elimination games to secure the eighth seed.
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Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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