For Stephen Curry, “gravity” has never been the enemy. Until now. In the midst of a razor‑tight playoff series, an image of Curry’s thumb swelling to golf‑ball proportions erupted online, fueling fears that the greatest shooter ever faces more than a defensive scheme. Behind the scenes, Hall‑of‑Famer Isiah Thomas, who lost a knuckle in his left thumb after a similar injury in 1991, warns Curry is running out of margin for error. As the Warriors brace for Game 6 against Houston, every dribble, every release, and every contact will carry career‑altering stakes

Under the NBA’s ‘hit‑and‑release’ rule, incidental contact with a shooter’s follow‑through is legal. The official rule is: “after the shooter releases the ball, contact with the shooter’s hand during the shooter’s follow-through can be deemed legal, provided that the contact is incidental, and it is not hostile, nor overly physical.” Steve Kerr blasted it as ‘dumb.’ and wants changes next year “because its only a matter of time before somebody breaks a thumb or breaks a hand or whatever.” Isiah Thomas backed the rules, despite suffering the same injury.

“This is something that goes all the way back to the time that the game was invented. And I’m one who’s had the same injury that Steph is dealing with right now. And Steph will probably have surgery at the end of the year.” Before the game 6 encounter, the Pistons legend spoke on NBA TV. “You know, and I had the same surgery with my knuckle. And as you can see, I don’t have a knuckle in my left thumb. Right.” The 2x NBA champion was talking about his 1991 wrist injury. But the real gravity emerged when Thomas, himself a victim of this exact injury, spoke up.

As per the report from the LA Times, wrist specialist Dr. Kirk Watson in Hartford, Conn, found that a ligament connecting two bones was badly damaged, allowing them to separate. Then GM McCloskey said Zeke would wear a cast for at least eight weeks, followed by at least four weeks of rehabilitation before he could resume play. A total of 12 weeks of missing action. Post surgery, Isiah Thomas has no knuckle in his thumb, which he showed on the broadcast. “And Steph got a big knuckle right now. But next year, he probably won’t have that knuckle in his thumb. Right.”

During the broadcast, Thomas called it a “career-ending wrist surgery”. Yet it was okay with the Rockets players targeting Stephen Curry’s hand. “When you got when you got hand injuries and wrist injuries in the sport of basketball, and the stakes are high. Right. That’s a common foul. So what Houston and Brooks and everyone is doing right now, you know, that’s just part of the game.” Even though Zeke calls it part of the game, Curry sends warning signs to the officials.

Stephen Curry’s injury concerns are not new for this season

The Dub Nation’s favorite first injured himself back in January. Later, he re-injured it in the second-to-last game of the regular season after jamming it on Justin Minaya’s knee during the Blazers clash. When he spoke about the injury, he simply stated, “Every time it got better, it got hit again.” After multiple contacts during the series against the Rockets, it seems the Chef has had enough.

“You don’t think about it. If it’s a foul, they should call it. That’s it. If it’s a foul, they should call it.” Stephen Curry is clearly getting hit during his shots and not getting the desired calls. So, he puts a demand on the officials. “It’s a subtle difference in how certain people do it that when I say if it’s a foul, it’s a foul.” His concerns are justified as the Houston player revealed continuing to attack the injury of the Warriors star.

“I’ve been playing the game. If [someone] had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time. So, whatever they’re saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it.” Dillon Brooks clarified the accusation in his post-game presser. So, the Rockets would naturally leave no stone unturned in order to force game 7. But Isiah Thomas wants Curry to deal with it in the offseason.

With Game 6 underway, Curry’s thumb will be the focal point of every pick‑and‑pop and corner triple. If the Rockets continue this bruising theme and no rule changes are implemented, the Warriors face both a series test and a long‑term health gamble on their franchise cornerstone.