Entering his 17th NBA season, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors could be facing a tough challenge this coming campaign. Curry will turn 38 years old in March, so the Warriors might be more careful about his health and minutes.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater explained on their Top 10 rankings for the upcoming season why Golden State could monitor the two-time MVP’s minutes. Curry is coming off a hamstring injury, and the Warriors might want to preserve his body for the playoffs. However, the Western Conference is loaded, so every game in the last two months might be important for positioning.
“He is known for having a disciplined workout routine and an obsession with keeping his body in shape for the season. But Curry will also turn 38 in March, and everyone around the Warriors knows his workload must be closely monitored if they want him fresh come playoff time. However, that’s always difficult when chasing every win for seeding purposes,” Slater wrote on September 26.
Curry suffered the hamstring injury in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He would miss the next four games as the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in Game 5. He has stayed relatively healthy in the past two seasons before his playoff injury.
Steph Curry Played in Golf Tournament 2 Months After Playoff Exit
The Golden State Warriors didn’t risk playing Steph Curry in Game 5, which was a good decision since soft tissue injuries are tricky to recover from. Curry seemed to have fully recovered two months after their playoff exit.
The four-time NBA champion participated in the 2025 American Century Championship, a golf tournament held in Lake Tahoe. He’s a former winner, taking it home in 2023. He’s an avid golfer and is quite passionate about the sport.
Curry wouldn’t have played in the tournament if he wasn’t 100% healthy. He didn’t win the American Century Championship for a second time, but he did finish fifth. He was the highest finisher among his basketball peers, with Austin Reaves coming in tied at 13th.
Steph Curry’s Place in ESPN’s Top 10
The Volume’s Jason Timpf placed Steph Curry sixth in his NBA player rankings earlier this month. Curry’s position wasn’t far off from ESPN’s rankings, with the greatest shooter ever coming in at No. 7. He was ahead of LeBron James and just behind Anthony Edwards.
“He still possesses the perimeter power that has made him one of the greats in the sport’s long history. He will bend coverages and be the center of every defensive game plan when he is on the floor this season. The Warriors’ success also remains tied to him,” Anthony Slater wrote.
Golden State’s offseason was fairly quiet in terms of transactions due to Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency. Kuminga has held the Warriors hostage with less than a week before training camp.