Stephen Curry’s ankle injury resurfaces as Warriors playoff run approaches

Curry isn’t 100 percent, but Golden State will still need its two-time MVP on the floor to return to the Finals.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Thursday that Stephen Curry won’t be 100 percent any time soon, even though he’ll return from his ankle injury on Friday for their matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.

“He’s as close to 100 percent healthy as can be. I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent healthy,” Kerr said, via The Athletic’s Anthony V Slater. “I think there’s things to be gained from a summer of some rest and specific rehab that we won’t be able to address now. Everything we have been able to address, we’ve addressed. I think he’s good. But I wouldn’t tell you he’s 100 percent.”

Curry has had his fair share of injuries this season

He’s played in only 50 of Golden State’s games this season. After his latest injury against the Spurs, the two-time MVP just can’t seem to catch a break.

First he missed a game against Orlando with a bruised thigh. It was odd — Kevin Durant has the exact same thigh contusion the week before.

But then the injuries started piling up. He had a swollen hand that sidelined him for two games in late November. A week later, Curry endured a gnarly ankle sprain against the Pelicans when he mistimed an attempt to jump the passing lane. The injury kept him out for 11 games.

On Jan. 8, he injured his knee attempting to finish a layup in transition.

Then on March 8 against the Spurs, it was another contested layup in transition that sent Curry hobbling to the locker room.

With the Warriors geared towards May and June, they’ve been conservative in bringing Curry back.

As annoying as these ankle injuries are, they were once lot worse

We’re only a few seasons removed from Curry’s massive ankle injury and the many minor ankle tweaks that surrounded it. There were 11 ankle injuries in his career before this season.

Somehow, Curry only went one season missing extended games. He underwent ankle surgery in the summer of 2011 and played in only 26 games the following season. That was before anyone even thought of him as one of the league’s best point guards, let alone a two-time league Most Valuable Player.

Those questions about his ankle also contributed to him signing a mere four-year, $44 million contract extension, which made him comically underpaid once he emerged as an MVP.

For the most part, Curry’s been mostly injury proof since that season. He’s played in 78 or more games in each of the five seasons leading into this one, though he slipped on a wet spot and missed two weeks in the 2016 playoffs. Now, though, it seems some of Curry’s old injury troubles may be revisiting him.

Curry might not be at 100 percent, but the Warriors will need him on the floor if they’re going to make it to their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance. And with the Rockets playing the way they have this season, Golden State will need their two-time MVP as healthy as can be if they hope to make it back for a shot at another championship.