A player's longevity in the NBA largely depends on how well their team manages fatigue and injuries. Many franchises have seen their stars stay well into their late 30s and even early 40s. Coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors aim to do that with Stephen Curry. They may have Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis, but it's not the best roster to give them a shot at title contention. But, all of this will fall apart if the superstar doesn't feel right when it comes to his injury and fatigue management.
How is Curry feeling amid his injuries?
Warriors' Curry optimistic about Year 18 injury outlook
The Warriors are clearly going all-in on their last championship window with Stephen Curry. They signed the superstar to a two-year deal worth $116 million and want to maximize every penny that they gave him. This is why his injury and fatigue management will be central to Coach Steve Kerr's schemes.
While rumors and speculation about Curry's health are widespread, the Warriors star reveals that he feels fine during the first days of training camp. He even gushed a bit about how he overcame adversity after playing only 43 games during the 2025-26 NBA season, via Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
"Last year was pretty drastic. Once I started to feel something in my knee, it was new. And by the time it had presented itself, it was kind of too late to manage it. So at that point, you’re kind of chasing it in the middle of the season, and that’s why it took so long to heal. This year, knowing what it is, taking advantage of the summer, having a very detailed plan to build my body, the foundation, give my knee a rest and still be prepared for training camp, that was the biggest win I’ve felt so far," the Warriors star declared.
Curry still has a lot left in the tank. He was still an NBA All-Star despite suffering from a right knee injury and being sidelined due to lingering pain. Not to mention, the Warriors star is just two years removed from ranking within the Top 10 of NBA MVP voting. All it takes is for Coach Kerr and the Warriors to play their cards right in rotations so he doesn't get hit with too much fatigue.
Amid all of this, Curry asks the coaching staff and himself to have more patience. Obviously, he is no longer his young self that could run through screens and move off-ball all day. That is why these training camps with the Warriors before the 2026-27 NBA season matter to him.
"I guess the way I used to say it was if we had to play a game on Day 1 three, four years ago, I’d have been fine. Now you kind of can use training camp to get in true game shape, but I still feel strong, and the toolbox is sharp. You just got to be a little bit more patient, which is not a bad thing," Curry added.
These are all still very optimistic statements from a player entering their 18th year in the NBA. If his outlook holds and the Warriors keep him away from injuries, there's no reason to believe they won't be dark-horse title contenders.
