Stephen Curry just signed a two-year, $116 million extension, and less than a week into the season he’s already sitting out a game. The Warriors rested the 38-year-old on the second night of a back-to-back and fell 131-122 to the Suns, dropping to 0-3 for the first time in 19 years. They were also without Draymond Green, Al Horford and Brandin Podziemski. Now a question is being asked that few want to say out loud: how often will Curry actually be on the floor?
The $116 million question
Peter O’Keefe of Blue Man Hoop wrote that Curry’s availability “could easily become problematic” over the length of the deal. It’s a fair worry. A knee injury cost Curry 27 straight games last season, and he played only 43 for the year. Saturday was his first rest night, and it came just three games in.
O’Keefe thinks the Warriors could have won this one with Curry on the floor, since they hung with a Phoenix team he called “less than impressive.” He also wonders whether Curry will ever be considered for both ends of a back-to-back again. Based on Saturday, he suggests, “we might have already reached it.”
The bigger trouble is the roster behind him. Joel Embiid and LeBron James have also rested on alternate nights for the 76ers, but Philadelphia has the talent to stay good without them. The Warriors don’t, which is why O’Keefe says having a $60 million player resting regularly “is a problem within itself.”
Curry saw it coming. Before the season, he told The Stephen A. Smith Show, “It’s health. I missed so many games last year.” Golden State is now living the rest of that answer, with Kristaps Porzingis out with an undisclosed health issue and Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody still recovering from surgery.
How the Warriors lost to Phoenix
The Warriors played hard all night but couldn’t close, a day after blowing a 12-point lead to Memphis in the last 3:47. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was the bright spot, with 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists. De’Anthony Melton finally found his shot and scored 25, and Brandon Williams added 20.
The young big men stood out too. Graham Ike had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Charles Bassey, back on a minutes limit in his season debut, chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds. Steve Kerr was happy with both. “Graham Ike has been fantastic two nights in a row,” he said, adding that all the reps give young players “confidence and the opportunity for growth.”
Podziemski, who has a sore lower back, could be back Monday in Denver. After that come a game at Minnesota and then the Lakers at home.
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