15 Years Later, Stephen Curry’s Battle With His Ankle Is Never-Ending

It was late in the fourth quarter of tonight’s game that the Chase Center heard an agonizing scream. The concerned eyes began searching for the origin, and it ended up being the one man they wished would have never been in pain. Stephen Curry was limping to the run back on defense trying to recover from a twisted ankle.

He injured his right ankle while driving to the basket in the clutch against the Chicago Bulls. The Warriors were up when he suffered the ailment. They would eventually lose 125-122 owing to the absence of their scoring phenom. Curry rushed to the locker room and immediately dipped his ankle in ice to decelerate the swelling.

The treatment was almost instinctual. The reason? This wasn’t the first time Curry has had difficulties with his ankle. In fact, we can take it back to his rookie season, when the ankle worries even threatened his career.

The agonizing history of ankle injuries for Stephen Curry

Coming from Davidson College, Stephen Curry was a frail and lean 6’2″ guard. He had a captivating run in college which led the Warriors to draft him with the seventh pick in the 2009 draft. There was a cloud of excitement in the Bay as Curry was set to make his debut. The much-anticipated date would be postponed, however. Curry missed the first two games of the season after he sprained his left ankle.

His rookie season passed by without any further complications He appeared in all of the remaining 80 games averaging 18.6 points per game. Curry even finished second in the race of ROTY.

In his sophomore year, his injury woes began in the postseason. The two-time MVP would aggravate that sprained right ankle in the season opener against the Houston Rockets. It caused him to miss two games. Only a month later early in December, Curry suffered yet another sprain in his right ankle and had to be helped by his teammates.

Curry would miss six games. While that would be the last of his injuries for the season, he and the Warriors knew a medical procedure was imminent. In the off-season, Steph Curry got his first ankle surgery in Charlotte.

After surgery, it was meant to be a smooth ride. Curry was supposed to have eliminated any risks or at least severely limited the chances of suffering another ankle injury. The dread didn’t stop though. Facing off against an MVP Derrick Rose and the Bulls in the 2011-12 season, the four-time champion rolled that surgically repaired ankle.

An X-ray was conducted revealing no breakage. The Warriors had to tread with caution in his case. There were times they gave him rest as precautionary measures to give his ankle ample time to heal. In February, the 35-year-old icon suffered injuries to his right tendon, heavily limiting his playing time.

In March 2012, a game against the Los Angeles Clippers would be the last time Steph Curry appeared that season. Then head coach Mark Jackson saw one of his players struggle and opted to take Curry out of the game. In April, Curry would get a second surgery on his right ankle. He had only played 26 games in his third year.

At this point, the concerns had reached great heights. The Warriors were wondering whether this would be a recurring problem. Was Stephen Curry going to be one of those whose prime is cut short by injuries? His trade value stunningly fell. Despite the history of injuries, the Warriors signed him to a four-year $44 million extension. In hindsight, they received a hefty discount.

It is well-documented now. Two ankle surgeries and other countless difficulties later, Stephen Curry has gone on to become one of the game’s most legendary stars. The mighty Warrior overcame adversity early in his career. Doubts crept in his head, but Curry’s conviction was undefeated. Unfortunately, even 15 years later, ankle ailments remain a part of his journey. He has suffered uncountable ankle sprains and rolled his ankle occasionally through the years. There is no official update on the gravity of his latest injury. However, like any other time, both he and the Warriors will find a way to persevere.

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