INDIANAPOLIS — It’s unlikely Stephen Curry will join the rarefied air of NBA legends with three MVP awards, but hardly any of that group had to single-handedly keep a dynasty from crumbling while it was still in full bloom.

The Golden State Warriors point guard was helplessly watching from home while recovering from a groin injury as a smooth-running season nearly capsized in Los Angeles in mid-November. An on-court disagreement between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green went too far, turning into an ugly affair that had many questioning the short-term viability of Golden State’s three-time title run.

The incident seemingly came out of nowhere as the Warriors were 11-2 and playing as loose as they had in a some time. But the team that prided itself on staying in the moment had a highly dissected moment of slippage due to Green’s emotion and Durant’s impending free agency this summer.

Curry’s injury stopped the early MVP conversation that hadn’t included him for a couple years, but that took second place to what felt like the most trying time of this dynastic run.

He admitted it could’ve turned into a full-blown crisis “if we let it continue,” Curry told Yahoo Sports recently.

However, he joined the team for the next home game — a time when feelings were still raw and he could’ve let things simmer before jumping in — because it was important for him to be there.

“He’s got the respect of everybody in the organization, on the team,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters days after the incident. “He’s very wise. He brings us together. He’s a guy we count on to keep things rolling.”

Curry visited with Green at his house.

“You gotta get right in it. You listen [while] understanding I don’t have all the answers. I have some, but not all,” he told Yahoo Sports. “It’s important to know where everybody is coming from, to understand what’s on their mind, with the stresses they’re dealing with on and off the court so that we can help each other. For a little bit that was lost.”

Stephen Curry smiles alongside James Harden during the third quarter of the All-Star Game on Sunday. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) More

The healing didn’t happen immediately, as things were awkward for some period of time while Curry was still a ways away from returning to the court.

“It’s a very select few that have been through the struggle. We have to rely on each other and that’s what got us through, the equity,” Curry said. “We’re all different, we come from different backgrounds, different ways of seeing life and value and appreciate what everybody brings to the table. If there were 15 me’s, we wouldn’t win. If there was 15 KD’s, we wouldn’t win. Fifteen Draymond’s … we have a little bit of everything.”

If Curry’s value on the floor is immeasurable, his value off it was shining brightly in a way no other teammate could dim as he walked a delicate line between his teammates.

“Drama’s gonna happen, but you gotta understand that and put everything on the table,” Curry said. “I’ve been part of that conversation and that’s been gratifying.”

On the other side, he also had to make sure the culture he had a strong hand in building would not be torn down.

“[I didn’t know] how hard this is. We always talk about how hard it is to win games, championships. Everybody thinks that’s just putting the ball in the basket,” Curry said. “Many a team, many a championship run, has been derailed by egos and mismatched personalities and drama that never got solved. It’s unfortunate, but we’re not gonna be that situation.”

That incident seems long forgotten as the Warriors find themselves atop the Western Conference, chugging along to a No. 1 seed at 41-16 and with a shot at catching the Milwaukee Bucks (43-14) for the league’s best record.

Curry’s at a precious point in his career. The usual concerns of injury are seemingly behind him, and he’s meshed with Durant on the floor to maximize their collective efficiency.

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