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Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry sustained an injury during Thursday's game against the Toronto Raptors after a hard fall in the third quarter. The injury forced Curry to leave the game and not return. However, an MRI scan later revealed positive news, confirming that Curry suffered a pelvic contusion with no structural damage. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Monday.
Doctor's Analysis: Soft-Tissue Injury, Not a Bone Fracture
Stanford Medicine's Dr. Todd Alamin provided insights into Curry's injury during an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. Dr. Alamin highlighted that Curry’s injury was limited to soft tissue, ruling out more severe concerns like a tailbone fracture or joint dislocation.
"So that's really good news. He landed directly on his tailbone, and the worry is that he might have a more significant injury to his tailbone such as a fracture or a dislocation of one of the joints within it," Dr. Alamin said.
He further explained that a contusion indicates a minor injury involving slight bleeding between the bony part of the tailbone and the skin over it, which is a much better outcome than a bone-related injury.
Steph Curry Wanted to Return, But Caution Was Key
Despite the injury, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr revealed that Curry was eager to rejoin the game.
"That's also a really good sign," Dr. Alamin commented. "I think the team did exactly the right thing though in getting an MRI scan to really be able to understand the significance of his injury."
Dr. Alamin emphasized the importance of caution, even for elite athletes like Curry. While players may be eager to push through pain, proper diagnosis and recovery time are essential to avoid long-term complications.
Return Timeline: Variable Recovery Period Expected
When asked about a potential return date, Dr. Alamin was cautious, stating that recovery could take anywhere between one to six weeks depending on the severity of the contusion and how Curry responds to treatment.
"Well, it's a little variable from one person to the next. But soft tissue injuries like this can take a week to six weeks to heal. And it just sort of depends on how he feels," Dr. Alamin explained. "I think [the Warriors'] training staff and the coaches will be able to have a pretty good idea of when it's safe to get him back based on how he's feeling and how he's moving around the court."
No Lingering Concerns from Previous Tailbone Injury
Curry previously dealt with a tailbone injury that sidelined him for five games toward the end of the 2020-21 season, but Dr. Alamin clarified that the two injuries are unrelated.
"The only situation we'd be worried about is a situation in which he broke his tailbone and then re-broke it, which clearly did not happen based on the information we have available," he said. "So, I think his previous injury and this one are not going to be affecting each other in any significant way, which is really good news."
Risk of Re-Injury: Caution Advised in Early Stages
Although Curry is unlikely to face long-term consequences from this injury, Dr. Alamin warned that another direct fall in the early stages of recovery could prolong the healing process.
"Although, clearly basketball players are susceptible to direct falls on their back, on their tailbone. These things happen in games," Dr. Alamin said. "If it were to happen again, it might take longer to heal from a secondary episode if it was within, hard to say exactly, but two to six weeks of the original injury here that he has just had."
Curry’s absence, even for a short period, poses a challenge for the Warriors as they navigate a competitive Western Conference playoff push. However, with no structural damage confirmed, the team can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on ensuring Curry returns only when fully ready.
