Stephen Curry's Two-Week Rescue Mission

Stephen Curry covered his head with a towel for a few seconds right after sitting on the bench. Not long after, he, still panting, took a deep breath. The veteran Golden State Warriors player stared intently at the court, but his eyes appeared extremely vacant.

That was the view from the Warriors' bench after Curry was pulled out at the American Airlines Stadium, Dallas, Friday (23/1/2026) morning WIB. With 57.3 seconds remaining, Coach Steve Kerr had already given up as they trailed the host Dallas Mavericks by 12 points. The game ended with a loss for the Warriors, 115-123.

Curry, 37 years old, performed impressively for 34 minutes. He scored 38 points, including eight three-point shots. However, he did not receive adequate support from his teammates, particularly the other starting players who contributed a total of only 30 points. The Warriors had to accept defeat against a team with a significantly lower ranking.

Frustration haunts the greatest guard of the 21st century. Two games have passed since his teammate, Jimmy Butler, was confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Since then, the Warriors, who had been on a positive streak since the turn of the year (12 wins, 4 losses), have begun to slump in a series of losses.

"This is definitely a difficult situation. First and foremost, we are thinking about him and his recovery," said Curry regarding Butler's injury. "From a basketball perspective, we still need to maintain the identity that has been built. He is a part of that, so these two games feel challenging. It takes time to adjust to the new reality," he continued, keeping his head down throughout his response.

It is understandable that Curry is deeply affected. Butler was brought in by the Warriors in the middle of last season to assist him in the championship pursuit. However, the star duo has always been plagued by misfortune. Curry suffered an injury when the Warriors were defeated in the Western Conference semifinals last season. This season, when the momentum began to favor them, it is Butler's turn to be sidelined.

Butler's injury is an initial verdict for Curry and his teammates. Their season is almost certainly over. It is nearly impossible for the Warriors to win the championship without Butler's assistance. Even with the duo of Curry and Butler, as of last Wednesday, they could only occupy the eighth position in the Western Conference (25 wins - 19 losses).

Butler is the second star on the Warriors, after Curry. He makes the team multidimensional. With his ability to draw fouls, the Warriors are more than just a three-point shooting team. Butler, with an average of 20 points and 4.9 assists, is also always relied upon to lead the second unit when Curry is resting. "Jimmy is one of the best players in the league. We will miss him," said Kerr.

Curry is indeed still performing at an excellent level. He averages 27.1 points and 5.1 assists, with a shooting accuracy of up to 46.8 percent. This has led to his selection as a starter in the 2026 NBA All-Star edition. However, the time for the long-range shooting specialist is running out.

My vision for him (Butler) is that he's back with us next year.

Curry will turn 38 years old on March 14. No one knows how his performance will be in the coming year. Kerr, the coach who has always been behind every success of Curry, is almost certain to leave at the end of the season. Therefore, this season is actually the best time for the superstar to pursue his fifth championship ring.

After Butler's injury, a heavy task awaits the Warriors' management. They have two weeks, until the player trade deadline on Friday (6/2/2026) morning, to support Curry. The scenario under discussion is Butler's trade. During his recovery, Butler is under a contract worth 54 million USD (Rp 908.9 billion) this season, which will increase next season.

The problem is that Butler is most likely only able to return next year. Upon his return, the 36-year-old player is also doubted to be able to regain his best performance. Moreover, there is the potential for further injuries. The club seems to be wasting the prime years of a Curry if they continue to retain Butler.

However, the exchange of injured players is very complex. Their trade value will decrease drastically. The Warriors will also find it difficult to obtain a suitable replacement. It is understandable that Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr dismissed that scenario. "My vision for him (Butler) is that he returns to us next year," said Dunleavy.

Butler's loss opens up a spot on the Warriors' roster. That spot is filled by 23-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga, who has requested a transfer. Kuminga, having not played since mid-December, has played well in the last two games. However, he suffered an ankle injury while scoring just 10 points in the first nine minutes against the Mavericks.

The question is, will Kuminga still be traded or will he take on Butler's role instead? As is known, the relationship between Kerr and Kuminga has often been rumored to be less than good. The coach rarely grants playing time to the young potential player, especially since Butler's arrival. This has led Kuminga to desire a move.

According to senior journalist NBA Insider, Chris Haynes, the position of the Warriors and Kuminga has not changed ahead of the trade deadline. The player no longer has the desire to remain with the club, while the club is open to that option. However, the Warriors have yet to find a trade that is commensurate with other clubs.

The Warriors have only two options at this point. First, for Curry, the greatest player in club history, they would have to sacrifice the team's future by including numerous potential draft picks in the trade. Second, they wouldn't have to make a big gamble, but they would certainly miss out on the best moments in Curry's waning career.

Many star players are reported to be available for trade, including Giannis Antetokoumpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Anthony Davis (Mavericks). However, there is a high price that must be paid for such big names. "If there is a great player that can be acquired, we have all the (assets) to trade," promised Dunleavy.

As a result, the Warriors must choose between the present or the future. This choice will reflect how the club values Curry, a player who has played a significant role in restoring the club's prestigious name, which had faded for four decades. (AP)