The Golden State Warriors held Steph Curry back from participating in a five-on-five scrimmage during Sunday’s team practice. According to a report from The Athletic, the decision was not due to a setback; instead, it was made to give Curry more rest ahead of his return.
The two-time MVP has missed the Warriors’ last 22 games with a runner’s knee; the team has gone 7-15 over that stretch. Losing both Curry and Jimmy Butler in January has seen Golden State fall to 10th place in the Western Conference with a 34-38 record.
With the Warriors struggling to string together wins, fans have begun calling for Steph Curry to be shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Today, we will look at three reasons why shutting down Curry could be viable and potentially beneficial for the Dubs.
3 Reasons for the Golden State Warriors to shut down Steph Curry
1) The Golden State Warriors can’t contend with their current roster
Jimmy Butler won’t return to the lineup this season, a loss that significantly affected the Warriors’ chances of contending. The Dubs tried to offset this loss by trading for Kristaps Porzingis, but have been without Steph Curry since the end of January.
Heading into April, the team is without its star core and Moses Moody for the foreseeable future after he was stretchered off the court during Monday’s game against the Mavericks. The Warriors were already underdogs this season, and with such a depleted roster, the team’s prospects have only gotten worse.
2) Increase Steph Curry’s title window with the Warriors
The Warriors’ championship prospects for this season are all but over. But according to multiple reports, the team is expected to bolster the roster this summer, potentially adding another key contributor next to Jimmy Butler and Curry.
As such, risking Steph Curry’s health for a few games that will have minimal impact on the overall season might not be the best move. It would make sense for the team to preserve the health of their 38-year-old star player.
Lastly, a well-rested Steph Curry, paired with Butler and another potential star, could be a combination that leads the team to postseason success.
3) Steph Curry being shut down gives Brandin Podziemski more time to develop
With Steph Curry out, the team has relied on Brandin Podziemski to start at the one. The third-year guard has made the best of his increased playing time, averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists over the last 22 games. More playing time for Podziemski will only help his performance on the court.
If the Warriors shut down Curry for the rest of this season, the backup guard can explore more ways to impact the game without Steph and potentially even play a role similar to Jordan Poole, who was a key contributor in the team’s championship run in 2022.
Read More: Steph Curry Sends Clear Cut Message to Fans Demanding Him to Sit The Rest Of The Season
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