Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry appears to be on the brink of returning to action after missing multiple weeks with a right quad injury. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Curry practiced with the team on Wednesday and was a “full go” during scrimmage sessions — a critical milestone in his recovery.
Head coach Steve Kerr told reporters the team remains cautious but optimistic.
“Day to day,” Kerr said, per The Athletic’s Nick Friedell. “But it’s looking good.”
Slater noted that while Curry has cleared significant hurdles, the Warriors have not yet issued an official green light for his return.
Curry, 37, has missed Golden State’s last five games with a quad contusion and minor muscle strain. The Warriors went 3–2 in his absence, relying on a surprising lift from undrafted two-way guard Pat Spencer.
Impact of Curry’s Absence: Warriors Stay Afloat Behind Spencer’s Breakout
GettyPat Spencer of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before his injury, Curry was averaging 27.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds across 16 games this season while shooting 39.1% from deep — once again serving as the central engine of a Warriors offense in the midst of roster turnover and rotational experimentation.
Golden State is 9–7 with Curry this season and improved to 4-5 without him following Sunday’s 123–91 win against the Chicago Bulls.
Spencer, however, has emerged as one of the league’s most unexpected bright spots. Over the Warriors’ last five games, he has averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 59.6% from the field and 66.7% from three (on roughly two attempts per game).
His production has earned him 23.2 minutes per night during Curry’s absence — and caused a ripple effect across the rotation. Most notably, Spencer’s surge dislodged former No. 7 pick Jonathan Kuminga from the lineup during Sunday’s rout of Chicago, a decision that fueled renewed speculation about Kuminga’s status entering the trade window.
Kerr Plans to Pair Spencer With Curry After Star’s Return
Curry’s expected return brings fresh questions about Spencer’s role moving forward. Kerr made clear on 95.7 The Game’s Willard & Dibs that Spencer has earned continued playing time — even alongside Curry.
“I’m not going to take away all of his minutes,” said Kerr of Spencer. “I’m definitely going to play him with Steph some, and we’ll see. Some of it will depend on matchups, how well we can hold up defensively, the three guys we put with [Curry and Spencer]. All of that has to be determined.”
Kerr emphasized Spencer’s impact on the team’s competitiveness.
“The way Pat is playing, the way he’s impacting winning, the way he’s impacting the competitive spirit of the team, I have to keep playing him,” Kerr said. “I mean, we’re winning, and he’s a huge part of that.”
Spencer echoed Kerr’s sentiments on Stein and Guru, acknowledging the reality of Curry’s return.
“Steve doesn’t owe me a conversation. We may address it, we may not, but ultimately my whole career has been built off of staying ready,” Spencer said.
From Lacrosse Star to NBA Contributor: Spencer’s Unconventional Journey
Spencer’s rise is among the most unique in professional basketball. A decorated lacrosse attacker at Loyola, he led the program to the 2016 NCAA Final Four and later became the No. 1 pick in the Premier Lacrosse League’s inaugural 2019 draft.
But instead of pursuing a professional lacrosse career, Spencer used his graduate eligibility at Northwestern to switch sports entirely, transferring to basketball. His adaptation was rapid enough to earn stints with the G League’s Capital City Go-Go and two developmental seasons with the Santa Cruz Warriors before securing a two-way contract with Golden State.
Now, with Curry nearing his return, Spencer’s resilience and unexpected breakout have created an unlikely yet valuable rotation puzzle for Kerr — one that underscores the Warriors’ evolving identity as they try to stabilize their season.
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