(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry left the team’s open practice in San Francisco on Sunday night after an awkward step, prompting immediate concern three days before the season opener. Coach Steve Kerr said afterward that the problem was Curry’s right ankle, not his right knee.
Curry was working on the wing against reserve guard De’Anthony Melton when he misstepped on a move along the perimeter, according to ESPN, which first reported the exit. He slammed the ball to the floor in frustration, play was halted and teammates gathered around him before he walked gingerly to the locker room. Initial reports indicated he had tweaked his right knee, and the team did not provide an immediate update.
Shortly after, Kerr told reporters that Curry had injured his right ankle. Kerr said he spoke with Curry in the locker room and that the guard told him “he’s fine,” according to multiple reporters at the session, including NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson. Kerr said he believed Curry would be OK.
The Warriors had not issued a formal injury designation or announced any further testing as of Sunday evening.
Why the Knee Drew Alarm
The early reports struck a nerve because Curry’s right knee was the central storyline of Golden State’s 2025-26 season. He missed 27 games over the final two months while dealing with what the team called “runner’s knee,” a condition that causes pain around the kneecap and is often linked to repetitive stress.
Curry returned for the last few games of the regular season and spent the summer working to get his knee and body ready for camp. He was cleared for full participation in practice, but the Warriors have been deliberate about his workload. Kerr said earlier in October that the team was bringing Curry along more slowly than usual as part of late-career maintenance, and he limited Curry to partial outings in early exhibition games.
Kerr went a step further Thursday, telling fans that Curry and other veterans would sit out some games this season, a plan RG.org covered in detail. Sunday’s scare showed how quickly attention shifts to the knee whenever Curry comes up limping.
Countdown to Opening Night
Curry, who turns 39 in March, is preparing for his 18th season, all with Golden State. He had looked comfortable in the preseason finale Friday, leading the Warriors with 20 points and seven 3-pointers in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Warriors open the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 21, against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, then play their home opener Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. That game starts the first of 15 back-to-back sets on the schedule, with a road game at Phoenix the next night.
Golden State’s depth has already been tested. Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season, and Kristaps Porzingis remains out indefinitely. RG.org’s Warriors season preview noted that health, more than anything, shaped the team’s 2025-26 results.
Curry’s status for Wednesday will be watched closely, given the team’s stated plan to manage his workload throughout the season.
California does not offer legal sports betting, so Warriors fans cannot wager in their home state. Fans in states with legal markets can find licensed online sportsbooks and compare sportsbook promos ahead of opening night.