SAN ANTONIO — Steph Curry shook up the basketball shoe world on Thursday, and after shaking and baking the Spurs to the tune of 49 points on Friday night, he spent almost as much time answering questions about his attire as he did talking about his record-tying performance.
Curry separated from Under Armour, announcing the planned end of a 13-year partnership and signifying that the ‘Curry Brand’ would become its own independent entity in 2026.
I’m a free agent, new beginnings. Blessed to have an unbelievable experience, to take a chance on something that meant a lot to me over the last 13 years,” Curry said. “I’m extremely proud of myself, my team, and everybody who was able to touch that business for that long. We should all be proud of taking a basketball brand or brand category that wasn’t really a thing before, to where we did. but I’m excited about the future.”
Though he declined to get into specifics, the star guard hinted at why the split was necessary.
“It was just in the best interest of both parties,” Curry said. “You know, the sneaker industry is difficult, and like I said, things change over time. You give your best effort to create something sustainable, and it’s a little disappointing, knowing how it turned out based on where Curry Brand has been the last five years, and the announcement we had two years ago. I think its the right thing for everybody, and for me to be able to take the opportunity with Curry Brand, and what we’ve done in the community, what we’ve done from Standing for something, changing the game for good, and hopefully having something to show for it down the road, I’m excited about that.”
He made waves on social media during the pregame warmups, when Curry donned a pair of the Nike Mambacita Kobe 6’s. But for the game itself, a 109-108 victory, he wore his usual Under Armour Curry’s.
“The idea of what he meant,” Curry replied when asked why he wore that specific shoe. “I talk about Kobe a lot, and that specific pair, I think it speaks for itself for what it means.”
Was wearing Nikes a sign of things to come for Curry? Not quite.
The good thing about this situation is that I love my own shoes … that’s why I put my name on them, and why I designed the kicks I have (worn) for as long as I have,” Curry said. “I’m going to have some fun for this … being open to any opportunity that is the right fit, we’ll try everything.