The Golden State Warriors are barely holding on—and the absence of Stephen Curry is the reason why. The 38-year-old superstar has now missed 25 straight games since his runner’s knee diagnosis on January 30. As doubts grow louder, many experts believe the Dubs should shut Steph down for the rest of the regular season. But Draymond Green says, “Hold on.”

The 36-year-old veteran forward revealed on The Draymond Green Show that Curry wants to come back. Even if it means that he’ll play one regular-season game in a Warriors uniform. In simple terms, shutting Steph down is off the table.

“Knowing that Steph might not have enough runway for the play-in game, that he would be shut down for the season. What I will tell you is, I don’t think Steph’s getting shut down for the season,” Green revealed. “I do know that Steph is doing all that he can to get back. I do know that he’s progressing well on the court, and I do know that he’s very, very, very eager to get back out there.”

He further added, “What I can assure you is, whether it’s one regular season game or five regular season games, Steph wants to play. He’s going to do all that he can.” Draymond then said, “He’s been doing all that he can, and things are really looking up. He’s doing a lot better.”

Green’s public optimism, however, stands in sharp contrast to the Warriors’ recent on-court struggles — a team visibly missing its engine while clinging to the final play-in spot.

The Warriors’ tenuous grasp on the 10th seed at 36-39 is a direct result of their road woes; their respectable 21-15 home record is nullified by a dismal 15-24 record away from Chase Center, contributing to their recent 4-6 slide.

Steve Kerr’s doubts over Stephen Curry’s return

According to Steve Kerr, who openly admitted he holds no control over Stephen Curry’s return timeline, the Golden State Warriors have shifted their mindset. Ahead of their matchup with the Washington Wizards, Kerr tempered expectations, signaling that a late-season or Play-In comeback for Curry is unlikely, as the team quietly moves forward without waiting.

“If he’s healthy, he’s going to play. If he’s not healthy or if there’s any risk at all, then he won’t play,” Coach Kerr declared. He further made it clear, given how everyone is hoping to see Steph suit up again, “We’re not going to take any chances.”

And despite growing calls to shut things down for the rest of the season, the players and Steve Kerr are still fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. If that path unfolds without the 38-year-old, they know they’ll have to live with it. “We want to see him, you know, we’re not bringing him back like for the play-in game…” Kerr said. “He needs to play some games, and we need to give him a runway if this is going to work. And we are running out of games.”

This isn’t the first time the Warriors have grappled with a late-season or abbreviated return for their superstar. In the 2019-20 season, Curry suffered a broken left hand just four games into the campaign, underwent surgery, and missed nearly four months—essentially the entire regular season up to that point. He returned for one game in early March against the Toronto Raptors before the COVID-19 shutdown halted the season.

That minimal ramp-up offered almost no meaningful game reps, underscoring the risks of a rushed or condensed comeback: even a healthy superstar can appear rusty, and any lingering uncertainty about the injury can amplify performance doubts or re-injury concerns.

The Warriors’ season now hinges on a simple conflict: Draymond Green’s faith versus Steve Kerr’s caution. For this franchise, the line between a quick exit and a deep playoff run is defined by one man’s health, and the clock is ticking.