It s a pity Curry was injured this year. If he wasn t injured, the Warriors would enter the finals.

June 9, June 2025, when Golden State Warriors fans look back on this season, they inevitably feel regret. Stephen Curry's injury this season has undoubtedly become the biggest turning point on the Warriors' road to winning the championship. The all-time shooter suffered an ankle injury in the middle of the regular season and missed a critical playoff stage. The Warriors, who lacked Curry, lost to the young Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals and eventually missed the finals. In contrast, the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in the finals and won the first championship trophy in team history. All of this makes people sigh: If Curry was not injured, perhaps the Warriors would be on the finals stage, and Curry is expected to win the fifth championship ring in his personal career. Curry's injury occurred in a regular season game in February 2025 when he accidentally sprained his ankle during a breakthrough. At first, the team and fans thought it was just a minor injury and Curry would be able to return soon. However, the injury was more than expected and Curry had to undergo surgery and missed the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs. Without Curry's Warriors, although they barely entered the playoffs under the leadership of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they lacked Curry's unparalleled creativity and scoring explosiveness on the offensive end. Especially in the Western Conference Finals, facing the Thunder's vibrant young lineup, the Warriors seemed unable to do so and eventually lost 2-4. The

Thunders have performed impressively this season. They have young talents such as Shea Gilgers-Alexander and Chet Homgren, and the team's offense and defense system is becoming more and more mature. In the Western Conference Finals, they took full advantage of the Warriors' lack of Curry's weaknesses and successfully defeated the experienced Warriors through fast offensive and defensive conversions and precise outside shooting. In the finals, the Thunder faced Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. Although the Pacers have an All-Star point guard like Tyres Halliburton, they are still slightly inferior in overall strength and experience. In the end, the Thunder defeated the Pacers with a total score of 4-2 and won the first championship in team history.

If Curry was not injured, the fate of the Warriors might be completely different. Curry is not only the team's offensive core, but also the leader and spiritual pillar of the locker room. His presence can create more scoring opportunities for his teammates, and at the same time, he can stand up at critical moments and defeat his opponent's defense with a three-pointer. Under Curry's leadership, the Warriors are fully capable of defeating the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals and eventually meeting the Pacers in the Finals. Faced with the Pacers, the Warriors have obvious advantages in experience and overall strength, and there is a great hope of winning the championship.

Curry's personal achievements will also be taken to the next level. At present, Curry has four championship rings, two regular season MVPs and one finals MVP. If he can win this season, he will tie Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan's five-time championship achievements, further strengthening his position as one of the best point guards in history. In addition, Curry's performance in the playoffs has been very stable. He is fully capable of winning the Finals MVP again and adding another highlight to his legendary career.

However, competitive sports have no if. Injuries are part of the game and are also an inevitable challenge in the player's career. Curry's injury not only made the Warriors lose the opportunity to compete for the championship, but also made the fans miss an opportunity to witness history. But even so, Curry's performance this season is still worthy of praise. In the games before the injury, he averaged 28.5 points, 6.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, and maintained extremely high shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage. His leadership and control over the game are still the top presence in the league.

For the Warriors, they will face new challenges next season. Curry's injury has healed, the team's core lineup is still complete, and they are still strong contenders for the championship. Management needs to make proper reinforcement during the offseason, especially on the inside and on the bench, providing more support for Curry, Thompson and Green. If it can stay healthy, the Warriors are fully capable of making a comeback next season and launching another attack on the championship.

For the Thunder and Pacers, the success of this season is just the beginning. The young players of the Thunder have accumulated valuable experience through the baptism of the finals, and their future is bright. The Pacers also need to learn from their failures, continue to strengthen their lineup, and strive to go further next season.

Overall, the NBA in the 2024-2025 season is full of drama and regret. Curry's injury changed the league's pattern and also made the title variable. But that's the charm of competitive sports, you can never predict what will happen in the next second. For Curry and the Warriors, regrets have become the past, and they need to turn their attention to the future and continue to pursue that ultimate goal - the championship. And for fans, being able to witness the performance of a great player like Curry is a blessing in itself. Regardless of the outcome, Curry has proven himself with his performance that he is one of the greatest players in basketball history.