Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Stephen Curry “is almost for sure going to play this season,” per Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kerr also noted it is “still unlikely” Klay Thompson returns at any point:

The initial timeline is still to reevaluate Curry's surgically repaired left hand after the All-Star break, and Curry is indeed on schedule to return shortly thereafter.

In fact, Curry might be just one month away. Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic previously reported the Warriors are looking at March 1 as a potential return date, and also noted Curry has looked “ready to play” ever since the brace was removed from that left hand:

The question is not if Stephen Curry is coming back this season, but when. And, from what I’ve been told, you might want to clear your schedule for March 1. The Warriors host the Washington Wizards that night.

That’s not set in stone, of course. More like a target date. But expect a return by the face of the franchise before next season.

Curry already looks ready to play in his post-practice sessions. Judging by his shooting, his broken left hand looks healed. He is no longer wearing the brace. But he hasn’t played since Oct. 30. Saturday was his 40th game missed since the injury. By the All-Star break, Curry will have missed 51 games — the most he’s missed in a season since he missed 40 games in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season when he severely sprained his right ankle.

Of course, there are likely to be arguments made with respect to why the Warriors should sit Curry.

Golden State (10-38) have the worst record in the NBA entering Thursday night's game against the Boston Celtics. Naturally, they figure to be a practical lock for a top five pick–if not higher–in the 2020 NBA Draft if the losing continues. Conversely Curry figures to add a few more wins to their total when he returns.

Nevertheless, Curry has stated a personal desire to return, and it would probably prove hard for Kerr and Warriors executives to keep him off the floor.