Associated Press
DAVIDSON ó Turns out Stephen Curry doesn’t just have a lightning-quick release. He’s a fast healer, too.
Davidson’s star guard was walking with a just a slight limp Monday, two days after what appeared to be a gruesome injury to his left ankle.
Curry was held out of practice but was confident he could return this week ó even if he couldn’t bear to watch the replay of him turning his foot so badly his ankle scraped the floor.
“I saw it once and I turned it off,” Curry said. “A few of my friends who saw it on TV were asking me if I had broke something because it looked pretty bad. I keep telling them that it looks worse on TV than it really was.”
Curry was dressed in practice gear and wearing an ankle brace under a sock. He said he still feels pain.
“It’s just going to be that way,” he said. “But I’m walking, so that’s good news. I’m putting all my weight on it. It’s progressing very well. From crashing off the court to being on my two feet now in 48 hours, it’s pretty good.”
That news led to a light atmosphere at practice. Coach Bob McKillop walked on the court faking a limp as television cameras whirred and the star of last season’s NCAA tournament joked about how many “remedies” he’s received via e-mail, phone and text messages.
“I’ve got a lot of advice from a lot of people really worried about my ankle,” Curry said with a smile. “From putting a paper bag with vinegar on it to using no ice at all. A lot of different stuff, but I think we’re taking the right steps to get back on the court.”
Curry, averaging 29 points, already had scored 25 midway through the second half Saturday when he stepped on the foot of a Furman player on a drive. Curry immediately hopped off the baseline and crashed to the floor.
“I had some bad thoughts going through my head because it hurt more than any ankle sprain I had before,” he said.
As his teammates pulled away for a 75-60 win, there was concern Curry may have broken his ankle. X-rays Sunday confirmed a sprain.
Curry wouldn’t rule out playing Wednesday when Davidson (22-4, 15-1 Southern Conference) faces The Citadel in a league game. The Wildcats host No. 21 Butler on Saturday in an important matchup for Davidson’s NCAA tournament resume.