Curry misses Lakers game due to injury! Responds to Warriors’ failed pursuit of Giannis and is currently learning Latvian for Porzingis

On February 7th Beijing time, Warriors star Stephen Curry revealed in an ESPN interview that he is rehabilitating a right knee injury and has sat out the previous two games. Later, Warriors reporters confirmed Curry will definitely not play in tomorrow’s game against the Lakers.

“Things are moving in a positive direction,” Curry said. “This injury is different from last year’s, but I’m confident it will heal completely.”

Curry’s return date remains uncertain. Early last season, he struggled with bilateral patellar tendinitis, forcing the Warriors to strictly manage his minutes and even rest him for a game. This time, the diagnosis is patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as “runner’s knee,” which usually causes swelling and pain around the kneecap.

Two weeks ago, Curry’s old injury flared up during individual training. He missed the away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, then played two games while injured, but had to leave early in the third quarter of the home loss to the Pistons due to worsening pain. Limping back to the locker room, he has since been doing rehab alone without participating in team practices. The team still lists his status as “day-to-day.”

“During rehab, I need to experiment and find what works,” Curry explained. “My knee still hurts, so I must first eliminate all inflammation and ease the pain. The injury requires close monitoring and management; rushing back could worsen it.”

The Warriors staged a comeback in Phoenix, defeating the Suns 101-97. After the game, in a lively locker room atmosphere, Curry shared this information with ESPN. Despite Curry’s absence, the short-handed Warriors went on a 25-7 run late to secure the win, improving their record to 28-24.

“The joy from this victory felt like winning a championship,” Warriors coach Kerr described the postgame celebration.

The players’ high spirits partly reflected their release of recent frustrations. Since Butler suffered an ACL tear on January 20th, the Warriors’ championship momentum halted, and their title hopes have grown distant.

The turmoil didn’t stop there. To pursue Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Warriors’ front office took aggressive steps, some of which became public. They were even willing to include veteran Green in trade talks, which heightened internal tensions.

“I wasn’t involved in the trade negotiations with GM Mike Dunleavy and others,” Curry said, “As expected,I know the team did make offers for Giannis. But in the end, the trade didn’t happen—that’s the current situation.”

“Our immediate challenge is to stabilize our performance, ensure competitiveness in the playoffs, and finish the regular season strongly.”

After it became clear the Bucks wouldn’t trade Giannis, Dunleavy and the Warriors’ management quickly shifted gears, abandoning that pursuit. They instead traded Kuminga and Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran center Porzingis. Porzingis has struggled with injuries this season, appearing in only 17 games.

When asked about Porzingis, Curry smiled and said, “I’ve recently been learning some Latvian—first and foremost, I hope he stays healthy so he can fully showcase his skills on the court. He and Al Horford once won a championship together. Although the current game environment is different, Porzingis’ skill set, height advantage, and presence are qualities our team has long lacked.”

To acquire Giannis, the Warriors were willing to offer numerous future first-round picks. However, when chasing Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. and Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, they were unwilling to match that level of draft capital. Just this week, both prime-time centers were traded to new teams with multiple first-round picks involved in the deals.

Curry did not express dissatisfaction with the front office’s activity on trade deadline day.

“Trade deadline moves are always unpredictable; the team must weigh pros and cons and make the best decisions, all clearly influenced by Butler’s injury and realistic possibilities,” Curry said. “I’m excited about what Porzingis can bring. You saw the team’s fighting spirit tonight, and we’ll gradually build chemistry as we work together.”

So, is Curry satisfied with the team’s current situation?

“Not satisfied,” Curry stated bluntly. “Of course, I want Butler healthy and playing. But right now, this is the challenge the team must overcome together. Three weeks ago, we were steadily progressing in a clear direction, but momentum suddenly stopped. Now we need to find our winning rhythm again.”