All-star guard Stephen Curry went down with a non-contact injury to his right ankle in Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans did not return to the game. Curry had not had an ankle injury all season up until Tuesday night, but as you can see below, he’s no stranger to ankle injuries in his career.
Although the injuries have been divided between both of his ankles at times, it’s clear that Curry is dealing with a significant issue in his feet. The problem in and of itself may not be all that painful (loose ankle ligaments), but it predisposes him to these sprains. He’s lucky that a sprain is all he’s dealt with, because he could easily suffer a more significant ligament tear or even and ankle fracture.
Curry’s Outlook
As for Curry’s outlook, it’s almost certain that he will sit out tonight’s game against the Grizzlies. The Warriors have already locked up the top seed in the Western Conference, and with the playoffs looming this weekend, the team will try and give Curry’s ankles a rest before the real season begins.
Once this season is over, Curry needs to sit down with a medical team and really consider his options going forward. He’s been able to compensate for weak ankles because he’s young and he has a great jump shot, but his ankle ligaments aren’t going to heal on their own, at least not fully. He really needs to consider ankle instability surgery. During ankle ligament reconstruction, a doctor surgically restrengthens the ligaments to help stabilize the ankle. Patients will have much stronger ankles following the procedure, and it significantly reduces your likelihood of suffering an ankle sprain or similar type injury.
Curry will have a long career in this league, but if he wants to maximize his potential and ensure he’s still one of the best players in the league in the future, he needs to prioritize his ankle health and undergo a corrective surgery to stabilize his ankle ligaments. Here’s hoping he can stay healthy throughout this playoff run.
