Warriors Hope Stephen Curry is not the Next Derrick Rose
By Ben Pickman
On Apr. 28th, 2012, in a playoff game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls, the opening chapter of the Derrick Rose injury book began when in an instant the Chicago Bulls lost the reigning MVP to an ACL tear in his left knee.
The Bulls superstar guard smartly sat out the entirety of the 2012-13 season before returning to action at the start of the 2013-14 campaign.
On Nov. 25th, 2013, Rose underwent successful surgery to repair his previously torn medial meniscus in his right knee. Rose had played only 10 games that season.
Nov 22, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) walks out of the Moda Center on crutches after being injured in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers won the game 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
And just last night, the Bulls announced that Rose will again need surgery to repair his torn right medial meniscus. His third major surgery in four years is a travesty to the NBA community.
It also is a reminder of what hopefully Stephen Curry never becomes.
It’s not a stretch to say that Rose is limping on the Bill Walton treadmill. The 6-foot-11 Walton was an NBA MVP and Finals MVP, but limped through parts of 10 seasons battling all sorts of foot and ankle injuries, finally winding up as a Sixth Man of the Year for Boston in 1985-86. Walton is one of the great what-ifs in NBA history. Walton had the skill, spring and energy to dominate for decades, but his body broke down on him and he needed ankle fusion immediately after his career ended.
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Rose is on that path. And thankfully, Stephen Curry is not.
Many thought that Curry could have been the next Walton. In 2011-12, at the age of 23, Curry needed major surgery on his right ankle. He had been leading the NBA in free throw percentage (93%), ranked third in three-point percentage (44%) and had become the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 45% percent from the floor, 40% from three-point territory (44%) and 85% percent from the free throw-line (93%) in his first two seasons.
In 2012-13, Curry missed four games, all as a precaution — until a possible nightmare sprang up in the postseason.
In Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, Curry flashed off a screen, caught the pass, pumped-faked Danny Green off his feet and elevated for a three-pointer.
He didn’t hit the jumper. Rather his left ankle contorted over his shoe; not his right-ankle, but rather his left ankle. The one that had not been surgically repaired.
April 28, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30, right) reacts after an eye injury against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 115-101. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Tissue paper ankles.
Curry had two tissue paper ankles. And three ankle-surgeries. He appeared to have bad luck.
But he didn’t or hasn’t. (Knock on wood).
Earlier this week, Curry missed the game against the Indiana Pacers. He reportedly didn’t play because of an ankle injury. Ankle injuries, of course, are common over the course of an 82-game season, but with Curry’s creak ankle history, it was hard to not be overly concerned.
Curry returned to the floor last night in the Warriors 114-107 win over the Wizards, but the question still remains. Why did Curry miss only one game? How serious is his ankle injury? And what effect could it have on the Warriors season?
Rose will likely miss his fourth postseason in a row. The Bulls will be fine without him, but fine won’t win them a title. They again have to find a way to create offense and penetrate off the dribble.
Without Curry, the Warriors would be in a similar predicament. Curry likely won’t be the next Bill Walton. Rose seems to be on that path.
Likely is the key word, and for the Warriors fans, players, and management, they hope that the “likely” becomes a “won’t be.”