By now, everyone knows Stephen Curry has had 7 right ankle injuries since the start of last season. But what I don't remember is how they occurred, how many of them involved landing on someone else's foot, and how many were bizarre sprains all by himself.
So I dug through my past links posts and searched the web to find videos of the sprains, and I turned up footage of all the 7 sprains and put them all together after the jump. So click that jump, take a look, and tell me if you see any kind of pattern to these frequent Curry ankle injuries.
Video link: nba.com game recap
@1:56
Video link: nba.com game recap
@1:40
@0:54
Video link: nba.com game recap
@0:34
Entire video
Video page: CSN: 4.12: Morning Minute
@1:24 (The video autoplays, so I couldn't embedded it here.)
Entire video
Video link: Curry's injury
Entire video
Video link: Curry's injury
Entire video
@1:36
I count 4 times where the injury definitely occurs by himself. Then there was one time where he landed on someone's foot during a fast break. Also once he MIGHT have tripped over Blake Griffin's foot. And once, he MIGHT he stepped on Raymond Felton's foot.
So what do you think? Is there a real problem here? Is it still the shoes? Is Curry somehow light-footed? Is he pushing too hard on his right foot? Or is it just plain bad luck that it's happened so frequently and Curry won't suffer another sprain for a long time?
1 recs | 64 comments
So don't want to watch these...
but for some reason, I feel like I must :S
Brownie13 - January 6, 2012
Yep, those videos are painfully awesome!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Their gonna sit him for 2 weeks. Nate and CJ should be able to fill in until then.
J-RIDAH - January 6, 2012
Except..
We’re a one man team until Curry gets back
Potential - January 6, 2012
not really, we have some talent, they just need to step up.
Lee and DWright have been turribly quiet, plus we got Nate coming in.
Monta has been pretty good so far at playing like he’s not a one-man show
Duby Dub Dubs - January 6, 2012
Glad the coaching/medical/trainer staff agrees Wrote this two days ago. I now think, sit as long as it takes!
Our franchise is the Monta-Curry backcourt! We keep that! We need to sit Curry for one two weeks to get him 100%! We take our lumps in the meantime! Forget about winning expectations! Let the bench shake out! Get Curry back, take the best pieces, and, see the rest of the season from there!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Our franchise is the back court?
For now, we should be dealing Curry for something of great value before he blows his ankle even more. They are great together but we might need to deal him
dubzfan - January 6, 2012
Yep, we have nothing of that magnitude beyond it.
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Oh we are going to suck so much
But for a trade to happen he must be healthy…
dubzfan - January 6, 2012
lol...Still hung up on trading the franchise players? Not!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Curry isn't the franchise player if he can't stay healthy
And even if he was he’s not franchise player material, he’s not ever going to be a Wade, James, Kobe, Dwight etc.
dubzfan - January 6, 2012
Our backcourt IS the franchise! Both, together. We have didly-squat that resembles "franchise" weight beyond it!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
no shame in that
there are so few true superstars, I don’t think anyone around here would pretend like we really have a superstar on our roster
Duby Dub Dubs - January 6, 2012
i think he needs special shoes, maybe nike does not have the answer
HUNGRY HUNTER - January 6, 2012
Read somewhere that Steve Nash’s personal trainer specializes in articulatio talocruralis conditioning/workouts.
Nash isn’t supremely athletic but its easy to see he has good foot speed/running motion as well as coordination.
Anonymous1337 - January 6, 2012
Forgot one....
Steph sprained his ankle first while practicing with Team USA after his rookie season with the DUBS
Brothaplease09 - January 6, 2012 via mobile
Good memory
I did a quick search, and that was a left ankle sprain. I don’t think there’s any way I can find footage of that one.
IQofaWarrior - January 6, 2012
He could wear high tops and tape his feet and ankles to keep stability.
tenkaistar - January 6, 2012
Personally
I say trade his fragile ass!!
This is a tough mans league!!
It ain’t football but it IS a contact sport there will always be someone battling for a rebound or to block a shot or steal a ball…. And as young as curry is he can’t exactly hide In a corner and wait for the ball… (ah la late regie miller)
I say everyone going to the game on the 12th make a we want Dwight sign and flood the arena with dhoward love n give him a taste of what’s to come playing for the dubs!!
RTM707 - January 6, 2012 via mobile
jackedup
At first I think his ankle sprains were of the common variety (He’d step on somebody’s foot or land on his foot wrong causing his ankle to roll)
Now he’s spraining his ankle from simply planting it? Simply taking a hard step? That is not normal to me. He had surgery to strengthen his ankle ligaments but its obvious they’re not holding up to conditions needed to play the NBA game. Scary. All of these sprains after the surgery can’t be good and probably make the injury worse. A whole YEAR off might be the only solution.
q00pster - January 6, 2012
He should sit out the rest of the season and have surgery again
The most recent sprain was one of the worst I have ever seen (from the point of view of indicating structural weakness in the ankle).
The problem with sitting Curry, as we all know, is that Monta is forced to do everything. I am not sure there is a coach in this league that wouldn’t run Monta for 40 mins/night with this lineup. This is bad for two reasons:
1. it perpetuates “bad” Monta
2. it increases the likelihood that Monta also gets hurt
Supafishal - January 6, 2012
but the upside is...
tanking and keeping our pick.
Silver linings :)
Lacob's Ladder - January 6, 2012
No way. Smart is our guarantee that Sacramento will beat us there!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Avoid more surgery at all costs! I think the problem is mechanics. Toe planting vs. heel planting, particularly on lateral movement.
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Technique
Change of direction is inherent in NBA offense and defense. Curry has the ability to react to it mentally but obviously not the physical ability to execute it season-long with his current ankle strength and footwork. With Jackson’s emphasis on defense, his ankle will only be tested more often. Short of a bionic ankle, he’s got as much help as possible from surgery, so he needs to keep it healthy by strength and technique or he won’t be able to stay on the floor at this level. Every time he rolls it makes him more susceptable to reinjury.
DeathValleyCarl - January 6, 2012
Bingo! Correct on all counts!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
dude needs to start wearing a brace instead of just tape.
dannyschmanny - January 6, 2012
Baffling
wallywagon11 - January 6, 2012
sprained ankles are so common playing basketball
but even with that fact this seems so freakish
wallywagon11 - January 6, 2012
Ankles do not rolls that way! Good Night!
GoldenStateGuerrero - January 6, 2012
Im no doctor but this is the answer.
J-RIDAH - January 6, 2012
Exactly...
…. I remember him wearing one for like half a game last season before removing it. There was another article recently about taping and doing it in a way to not mess up the mechanics of his jumpshot.
Eff that. When you are a natural shooter, you can make the adjustment. Even if his ankle “feels 100%”, it’s obviously not at full strength. He’d be limited in a rigid brace for sure, but I believe he could still be effective, even if you had to limit his minutes some.
warriorsablaze - January 6, 2012
The difference between you and a doctor is; the doctors will never admit when they are wrong and hide behind lawyers, gated communities, and a system stacked against the average American when they are. This kind of brace is what I was calling for last year and what I what I was hoping to see him in after the surgery. The reality is, his doctor gets paid more every time he sprains it so curing him with a cheap simple solution is the last thing his doctor wants. He may be a bit slower in the brace but at least he would still be playing and still be a trade asset..
KillaContract - January 6, 2012
So I trust the next time a serious ailment befalls you or someone close to you, you’ll be calling on our own J-RIDAH? ;-)
Sleepy Freud - January 6, 2012
I am not worried here in the USA, I have the best medical insurance in the world that money can buy.
It is called a passport.
KillaContract - January 6, 2012
WOW
Um… The team doctors get paid regardless of whether or not Curry continually hurts his ankle. To me this is statement can be seen two ways. Either your super cynical about healthcare or your pissed about something else.
Interesting… you see Curry as less of a trade asset because he’s hurt. Yet you’d rather play him with an ankle brace rather then resting him for a prolonged period of time. I’d counter that resting him wouldn’t hurt his trade value. Heck, a team might gamble on him know he hasn’t been continually playing on a bum wheel and think that their own medical staff might have some answers to his continued ankle issues.
mcwalter44 - January 6, 2012
He may be a bit slower in the brace but at least he would still be playing and still be a trade asset..
I’ve never worn a brace like that but my concern would be what it would do to the mechanics of the leg and if it could cause more injury somewhere else? How do you fit it into a shoe so as to still have good footing and traction and not tweak your knee?
If I had to make my living with the ankle I’d check out more surgeons and see if there are more advanced techniques than the procedure already done. They can repair blown out pitchers arms these days so seems like they could fix an ankle.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 6, 2012
Right. Could lead to knee, hip, and eventually back and neck problems if you don’t look at trying to correct this holistically. Could be a good thing to have on while he plays, but there needs to be some other type of rehab on the offdays.
seespotjump - January 6, 2012
Rest and rehab a must! Two weeks is a good move.
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
so messed up how ppl here demands trades once an injury occurs…back when Monta had his Moped incident, Trade Monta comments were everywhere.
It’s been 6 times Curry injured that ankle so far, before that 7th one; wouldn’t he be extra cautious of his ankle? The last ankle injury looked like it was the weight on the foot, to the upper ankle.
AlbinoWhale - January 6, 2012
Agree. Trade? No way! Monta and Curry ARE our franchise players!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
I wanted to trade him for a CP3 rental before the preseason (that was 3 injuries ago, if you are counting at home)
Supafishal - January 6, 2012
This is a very good point. But thanks to the brilliance of medical science there is a solution.
These worked wonders for Forest Gump
KillaContract - January 6, 2012
Now, all we have to do is find a box of chocolates and Jenny, for Steph!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
First, !Q!, your video research is AMAZING! Thanks for the great poop!
Second, I used a regimen in my career that has helped kids with problematic ankles, also, getting back from ankle injuries:
17 toe lifts with feet wider than shoulder width, toes pointing to the side-as far as possible.
17 toe lifts with feet wider than shoulder width, toes pointing in-as far as possible.
17 toe lifts with feet wider than shoulder width, toes pointing straight ahead.
As the ankles get stronger, add, 5, 10, and 15 lb weights, progressively, on each hand!
Does wonders for the calves as well.
Good luck, Steph! We need you!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
making sense here
the problem might originate with his foot and toes. someone speculated that he’s ‘pigeon toed’. Is he rolling the ankle most frequently to the outside ? If that’s the case, the direction/attitude of the fore foot would contribute to it on simple movements like landing and pushing off. He would need customized shoes and very specific physical therapy to help compensate.
the.monk - January 6, 2012
Right on, Monk. Concurrent physical therapy is hot (whirlpool)/cold(pool-pointed toe paddling/swimming), ultrasound.
Solid tape job critical, in addition to high-top shoe. Give up a bit of lateral mobility, to gain some stability. Also, I noticed Steph plants his entire foot when changing direction, laterally. Not good! Needs to stay on his toes like a boxer. Easier on the ankle, and quicker on the change of direction and back-pedal. He practically needs to reinvent his entire balance and motion. Plant feet when situation allows resting, and get up on his toes for movement, especially on defense!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Do people really think professional NBA trainers/Doctors haven't tried this type of stuff?
These simply excessive are just that, simple. It may help but to think it hasn’t been explored is foolish . These are pro athletes were talking about here, not HS players who are too lazy to do these things
dubzfan - January 6, 2012
Well, you'd be surprised...there is a lot of differing opinions and techniques out there; particularly in pro circles.
Does not hurt to get back to basic ankle-strengthening and treatment techniques. You’d also be surprised as to the difference in surgical techniques among orthopods, and , success rates…in pro circles!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
I actually have to agree with this. While NBA teams do have great doctors and trainers working with them, the players are left to their own devices far more than in, say, the NFL. In football, players have mandated “healing days” (usually Monday’s) each week where they have to report to the training room for treatment. In the NBA, you are moving cross country all the time and I think the onus is put on the players to a far greater extent.
Supafishal - January 6, 2012
I helped put together one of the first orthopedic sports medicine programs in this country once....
I worked with a fellow named Feagin (Professor Emeritus out of Duke) who was consulting with a fellow named Nicholas (J. Nammath’s doc). I learned a lot out of that.
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
yeah, I remember when we changed trainers recently
there was a quote from Steph about “trying something different” for his ankle which essentially boiled down to not working out on it on days off, just let it rest….so previous training staff was NOT having Steph rest that ankle on off days
seems like a no-brainer to me
Duby Dub Dubs - January 6, 2012
Yep, Dubby..sometimes the simplest things are overlooked...
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
As someone who's old enough to remember Bill Walton
I say rest Curry and do whatever it takes, for however long, even if it’s months. Like Curry’s ankle, Walton’s foot always seemed to be this minor, temporary thing. “Hey, just needs a little rest, he’s young.” I mean, a foot, how serious could it be? Suddenly, it was serious, and Bill Walton wasn’t Bill Walton anymore.
BlueInTheFace - January 6, 2012
Totally agree. He should come back with an ankle stronger than he has ever had, before he palys a minute of another game!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Its too late
too late for a shoe change. These ankle tweaks have taken it’s toll, even from last year. That one at the Spurs game his ankle didn’t even twist, he planted his foot and something about that ankle is terribly fragile!
This sucks cause he’ll be less aggressive if he watches where he lands/runs all the time to prevent injuries. They should’ve let Currys ankle heal for like a month after that pre-season injury. Took a gamble and like 5 more ankle injuries? Let Curry be inactive for a month and we’d have him back by now and our record might be same as now 2-4.
This might be more frustrating than when Monta had his ankle hurt from a Moped or Currys constant ankle tweaks.
AlbinoWhale - January 6, 2012
You may be right. I really do not know much about his surgery, either. I hope it is not too late...
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
You are correct Sir!
Rest is the primary thing that is required with ankle injuries like this.
Steph is going to have to sit for 3 weeks while he is getting treatment. I know the team will push him to play, but that is short sighted. He will blow his ankle out and potentially ruin his chance at a long career.
Playing with an ankle like will also lead to a lot of fouls as he reaches instead of moving his feet properly. There is no way Jackson can game plan when Steph cannot stay on the floor or play the level of D he keeps preaching about. If they really want to play Steph through this, we might as well give up on D and play all out run and gun.
warriorsvictim - January 6, 2012
Hey IQ
first of all, thanks for this!!
secondly, looks like people are already biting on your work!
http://ballislife.com/stephen-currys-7-ankle-sprains/
Duby Dub Dubs - January 6, 2012
Dubyyy! Thanks, for letting us know. Yep, fine piece of work by IQ (as usual)! Glad it is noticed!
dinohealth - January 6, 2012
Sweet!
IQofaWarrior - January 6, 2012
yup, IQ, you are definitely the man….even got a little hat tip at the top of the page with a direct link back here
Duby Dub Dubs - January 6, 2012
maybe this is Currys secret plan to get himself traded
AlbinoWhale - January 6, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Golden State Of Mind to post a comment.