Stephen Curry is finally returning to the floor for the Golden State Warriors, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is making sure everyone understands the magnitude of what Curry means to the organization.
After a grueling 27-game absence due to a persistent knee injury, Curry is expected to suit up against the Houston Rockets at the Chase Center on Sunday.
Steve Kerr Praises Stephen Curry Ahead of Injury Return
Having won three championships alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago, Kerr has shared locker rooms with the most demanding and historic figures in basketball.
But speaking to the media on Saturday, Kerr placed Curry on a pedestal above them all. Talking about the two-time NBA MVP’s return to the court, Kerr said, “He’s the greatest face of a franchise that I’ve ever seen…”
“We owe it to our fans to give them the opportunity to watch Steph Curry play basketball this year. And Steph doesn’t even think twice about that. That’s what he wants. That’s what we want. That’s what our fans want,” he added. “So we’re going to do that.”
Kerr played alongside Jordan on the Chicago Bulls from 1995 to 1998. The two won three consecutive NBA championships together under Phil Jackson from 1996 to 1998.
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Curry has built his own dynasty through joyous, selfless shot-making. His return to the floor is exactly what the Warriors need at this juncture. Golden State currently sits in the 10th seed in the Western Conference, and Curry’s presence has been sorely missed.
Although they have clinched a play-in spot, the team has gone 9-18 during his recent absence and holds a 13-25 record without the 12-time All-Star.
Before his injury, Curry was averaging 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across 39 appearances. He was converting 39.1% of his attempts from 3-point range and went 46.8% from the floor.
Detailing the mental impact the absence had on him, Curry said, “There’s nothing you can kind of push through or be on the court while it’s healing. And it’s just a different experience than most injuries that I’ve had… But right now, I kind of understand what the new normal is. And it’s good enough to play.”
Having received the green light from Golden State, Curry returns at a desperate time, as he leads the team with 27.2 points per game this season, and the Warriors’ offense has looked completely disjointed without him.
While he’s expected to see limited minutes against Houston, Curry’s return will undoubtedly rejuvenate the fans and possibly reignite Golden State’s season.
