A Basketball player without a shoe deal? That is just a barefoot baller, waiting for someone to put a sole on it. From Jordan’s iconic Air Jordans to LeBron’s Nike deal at 18 years old, sneakers are symbols of legacy. After parting ways with Under Armour, Stephen Curry finds himself in rare territory, yes, without a shoe deal.

Even though he called it “just in the best interest of both parties,” could it be a step toward a bigger plan? One where Curry could define his sneaker future on his own terms.

Well, Stephen Curry himself just hinted at his next move. Actually, he laid it all out. “I’m going to have some fun … with this …in terms of being open to whatever opportunity is the right fit. But I’m going to try everything out.” So, basically he is no longer boxed in.

Now that his long-standing deal with Under Armour has ended, Curry seems genuinely ready to explore the full limits of the sneaker world. But what could this world be?

While the sneaker world is vast, we have some legendary heavyweights dominating it for decades. Michael Jordan’s signature ‘Jordan’ empire is the standard-bearer in the sneaker world.

Jordan Brand pulls in billions every year, with revenue reported at around $6.6 billion. Jordan’s long-term impact is unmatched. Now, imagine a Jordan × Curry collaboration, two all-time greats collaborating.

Then, we have Shaquille O’Neal. He could be one of Curry’s most compelling potential partners. When he became the President of Reebok Basketball back in 2023, Shaq has made it clear that he’s on a mission to revive the brand. “A big part of my role will be leveraging my network … and doing deals with people,” he said.

He was referring to his plan to bring back Reebok to its former basketball glory.

“Yeah, I’m really going to focus on player development and product partnership. We have a great team at Reebok. Allen [Iverson] and Todd are going to do what they do, but I’m going to be the one calling people, talking to people, and doing deals with people. So, that’s going to be my job.” Shaq added.

For Curry, partnering with Shaq could be a legacy move: joining forces with a legend who’s building something new rather than rehashing old collabs.

Curry’s willingness to “try everything out” is a launch point for literally anything. He could walk into a reimagined Reebok under Shaq’s leadership or shake up the sneaker universe by linking up with Jordan’s dynasty. The split with Under Armour marks the end of a 12-year partnership that began in 2013.

Back then, Curry left Nike for ‘a smaller brand,’ that is UA. In 2020, they launched the Curry Brand under the UA banner, with Curry even serving as its president.

Is Stephen Curry following Kobe Bryant’s footsteps?

Remember Kobe Bryant’s free-agent moment? Not on the court, but in the sneaker world. During the 2002-03 season, Kobe experienced his own sneaker free agency after parting ways with Adidas. For an entire year, he rotated through multiple brands—Jordan, Converse, Reebok, and AND1—before signing with Nike the following summer. The rest, as they say, is history.

Stephen Curry has found himself in a similar situation. Technically, he is free to explore some of the biggest names in the game.

But he chose to lace up the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” during pre-game of the Warriors vs. Spurs matchup on Friday. Reflecting on the choice, he said in the post interview, “I know, it’s just weird seeing me in anything else than my own shoes. But just the idea of what he meant … I talk about Kobe a lot. That specific pair … I think it speaks for itself … I think it gave me some good energy tonight.”

It was a tribute, yes, but it came with a subtle statement. Almost a declaration. Curry is in a phase where he is considering what is possible beyond the shoes for which he is known.

But he did not play in those shoes. After warmups, Curry switched back to his own shoes for the game. As he explained, “The good thing about this situation is I love my own shoes when I’m out there hooping. That’s why I put those back on and why I’ve designed, you know, the kicks I have for as long as I have.”

Much like Kobe Bryant before him, he is entering a period of creative freedom, with countless new opportunities unfolding. As for his footwear, the final Under Armour-branded Curry shoe, the ‘Curry 13,’ is set to release in February 2026, accompanied by additional colorways and apparel that will be available through October 2026.