It’s now 22 straight games. Stephen Curry should’ve been back after the All-Star break. But the Warriors talisman has yet to fully recover from a runner’s knee. There was some positive news. The team announced Curry has been progressing well in his recovery and could join team activities very soon. The only reason that step hasn’t been taken yet is that Kerr is awaiting the green light from Dr. Rick Celebrini.

“Well, the scrimmage was pushed back, and I think the plan is for him to scrimmage this week. And, you know, Rick is really monitoring all of this. He’s in charge, and he just felt that day that we should push him back a couple of days,” Kerr said on Willard and Dibs.

The precaution is very much necessary. Curry is still a remarkable cornerstone, but aging into the twilight of his prime. There’s no doubt that the two-time MVP is tirelessly working to get back on the court. Kerr wants that badly, with the Warriors clearly struggling with the injury troubles they’ve had this season.

That being said, Kerr will not be the person to take a risk and go against medical advice.

“I think today is a good day to, you know, just reassure our listeners that if we don’t feel good about it, then he’s not going to play. I mean, we’re not pushing him into anything if things aren’t really clear. And that’s, Rick has been really adamant about that and very open with that, you know, to me and to Mike here over the last week. And he feels good about it,” Kerr added.

Steve Kerr needs Curry more than ever. Aside from the Warriors’ downfall, this could be his final season at the helm. It’s unfortunate that the seasoned coach hasn’t had a healthy roster for the majority of the season. But Kerr won’t risk Stephen Curry’s career for his own good.

If the issue persists and it’s better to rest for the season, Kerr and the Warriors will follow that with their franchise’s greatest player.

Stephen Curry, Warriors’ chances slip away after latest injury

As much as Steve Kerr is willing to listen to the medical staff, he’s clear about one part of Curry’s return. If the franchise ace returns, winning becomes the immediate priority. It should be considering Stephen Curry is having one of his best scoring campaigns in the past five years. However, is that a chance Kerr and Curry would want to bank on?

It’s not just Jimmy Butler who is out for the season. The Warriors lost Moses Moody to a horrific knee injury in their last game against the Dallas Mavericks. Kristaps Porzingis can slot in to form a tandem with Curry. However, the former Celtics big man has dealt with his own set of injury problems.

From a health perspective, the Warriors are never going to be 100% this season. Of course, Stephen Curry would still be itching to help his teammates out. The Warriors are now 7-15 since the four-time champion’s knee injury. He gives them a chance. But it’s very slim. Would the Warriors want to have Curry go that extra mile without having the right pieces around him?

It’s an important question to ask with the franchise’s question in consideration. The Warriors could be healthy at some point next year. There’s no chance of that happening in the current season. Would it be better to let Stephen Curry rest and rejuvenate in that timeframe or test their resilience once he’s clear for team activities?

There’s a choice to make for the Warriors.