Curry Video During China Tour Shows Limping, Commentator Says Ongoing Knee Issue Could End Career Early

A short video from China has reminded Warriors fans of the nightmare from earlier this year. In the video, Curry appears to be clearly limping while walking.

Curry is currently in China participating in Li-Ning's "Wide Open Tour," a promotional event spanning Beijing, Dongguan, and Shenzhen from September 9 to 14. During the event, a short video showing him walking with a noticeable limp spread quickly on social media. Fans immediately linked it to patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as "runner's knee," the same issue that caused him to miss a significant amount of time during the 2025-26 season.

Commentator speaks out: This could be the end

Sports commentator Jim Park was among the first to raise concerns. He wrote: "If this is the same 'runner's knee,' and if it carries into the upcoming season, then this is ultimately the thing that will end Stephen Curry's career early. Pray that it is something else, because if it is not, if this is what he looks like after the offseason, then it's over."

Earlier this year, Curry missed an extended period because of the exact same diagnosis. At age 38, with a chronic knee issue resurfacing before even a regular-season game has been played, it is certainly a concerning signal for a Warriors team built around his availability.

Extension talks remain unresolved

He is still weighing a reported two-year, $136.7 million extension. Any sign that his knee has not fully stabilized would make the decision more complicated for both sides.

Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area had already pointed this out before the China trip, noting that ongoing concerns surrounding Curry's knee had not completely disappeared, even though the issue was considered manageable.

As of this week, Li-Ning, the Warriors, or Curry's team have not released any official statement confirming an injury. Curry did deal with "runner's knee" last season, but reports indicated the issue had been resolved before the start of the offseason. A limp during a promotional tour could also simply be soreness from a demanding schedule rather than a serious recurrence of the problem.

Warriors are not treating it as a minor matter

That does not mean the Warriors view the knee as irrelevant. Poole reported that Curry and his training team have developed a management plan around the joint, describing it as something that must be actively monitored rather than ignored.

Even so, reports say Curry himself remains confident that he can play more than 70 games this season. He has reached that mark only once in the past seven years, suggesting that his own team is not preparing for the worst-case scenario in the same way as some online reactions.