SAN FRANCISCO -- Sporting a walking boot strapped to his left leg and a slight limp, Steph Curry remains an optimist.
So much so, that he sounds confident in his ability to return to the Warriors by the start of the NBA playoffs at the very latest.
"You want to not rush the beginning stages of healing, because that's where you get the most progress, so when you do put the shoe back on, get back on the court and get reps, you're not dealing with any crazy soreness or anything and you give yourself a better shot," Curry said Sunday night when speaking with the media for the first time since the injury.
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Steph went on to avoid the word "cautious," but made it clear how important the start to his rehab will be in making sure there aren't any lingering issues. He also wouldn't set a straight deadline for when he will return. His answer still was a positive one.
"I'm an optimist, so yeah," Curry said when asked if he believes he will be back in time for the start of the playoffs.
Curry sustained a sprained ligament in his left foot Wednesday night during the Warriors' loss to the Boston Celtics. The play in which Curry was injured has been questioned and debated by many. On Sunday night, Curry was able to give his side of the story for the first time.
To no surprise, he did not deem Marcus Smart's dive as a dirty play.
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"He didn't try to hurt me," Curry said. "There's a certain way that he plays that I don't think many people would have made the play that he did, but I don't think it was malicious or dirty or trying to hurt me. It was kind of just a tough situation. Like I said, the way that he plays, there's a conversation just around should he or shouldn't he have?
"It wasn't like he looked at me and was like 'I'm trying to hurt that dude.' It's basketball."
The Warriors on Friday said that Curry will be re-evaluated in two weeks, which would be April 1. Including Sunday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Warriors have 12 regular-season games remaining over the next three weeks.
The hope is Curry could possibly play some of the final regular-season games. All that matters, however, is the postseason.
Right now, Curry says he can do "pretty much anything off my feet." His left foot is feeling better by the day and his goal is to be back on the court sometime next week with his left sneaker replacing his walking boot and a ball back in his hands as he progresses to basketball activities.
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Curry's injury makes him the latest Warriors star to be sidelined in a season where Golden State has been searching for any ounce of cohesion. Right when Klay Thompson returned from injury, Draymond Green went down. Green is back now, but without Steph.
Historically, Curry has responded to injuries as a man on a mission. His mentality hasn't changed in his 13th season, and his mission remains the same -- the playoffs, and most notably a fourth championship ring.