Chapter 314: The North Remembers.
Shortly after the Cavaliers wrapped up their first-round series against the Pacers, the NBA announced the regular-season MVP.
Once the Warriors secured 73 wins, the award was never in question.
With a historic season—averaging 30.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 2.1 steals, and shattering records with 402 three-pointers—Stephen Curry claimed his first MVP trophy.
For Under Armour, this was another massive win, following Han Sen's back-to-back MVP seasons. At this point, UA might as well have been printing money.
But for the Warriors' front office and their fans, this moment of triumph came with an uneasy reality.
Because in Game 4 of their first-round matchup against the Mavericks, Curry slipped and suffered an MCL sprain.
Golden State never disclosed the exact severity of the injury, but even a Grade 1 sprain would require at least two weeks of recovery.
Han had expected this.
Winning 73 games was a monumental feat, but it came at a price—just like it had for Dwyane Wade years ago.
Some players, like Michael Jordan or Han himself, could push their bodies to the extreme and still hold up. But for guys like Curry or Wade, with a history of nagging injuries, pushing beyond their limits was always a gamble.
And now?