Stephen Curry’s drama-filled shoe saga has officially become bigger than half the NBA storylines this week. The Warriors are in San Antonio tonight, but let’s be honest, people aren’t tuning in to see if Golden State can guard Victor Wembanyama. They’re tuning in to see what’s on Steph’s feet now that he’s no longer with Under Armour for the first time in 12 years.

After the shock announcement that Curry and Under Armour have ended their long-standing partnership, the Warriors star walks into tonight’s game as a true sneaker free agent, no deal, no non-compete, no brand obligations. And that brings us to the question every fan, sneakerhead, and brand exec wants answered:

Let’s get into it because the answer tells a much bigger story than just “Curry 12s or not?”

The breakup didn’t come out of nowhere. Their partnership started in 2013, when Curry famously pivoted from Nike to a then-up-and-coming Under Armour. The result? A decade-long empire:

• Curry 1 launched in 2015, igniting UA’s basketball surge.
  
• Curry Brand debuted in 2020, UA’s attempt at a Jordan-like sub-brand.
  
• 2023: Curry became President of Curry Brand and took ~8.8 million UA shares worth around $75M.
  

All four of his championships. Every MVP trophy. Every scoring title. All of them happened in Under Armour shoes.

But behind the scenes, UA was struggling badly. Stock down over 50% in recent years, steep restructuring, and a company-wide pivot toward “core UA priorities.” In late 2025, the board approved another $95 million in restructuring, which included cutting Curry Brand loose.

At the same time, Curry wanted freedom. He now owns his SC30 logo, all Curry Brand IP, and most importantly, has zero restrictions on signing with a new company.

Now we reach the main event.

So… Which Shoes Will Curry Wear Tonight vs. Spurs?

And we already have our first look at Curry as a true sneaker free agent. After ending his 12-year partnership with Under Armour, the Warriors star appeared in a new video lacing up the rare “Mambacita” Nike Kobe 6 — a black-and-white tribute to Gianna Bryant released in limited quantities, per Nick De Paula.

The shoe carries meaning beyond its scarcity. As Nike noted at the time, profits from the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” are donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, reinforcing the charitable legacy tied to Gigi’s memory.

And it doesn’t come as a surprise. Curry has described Kobe Bryant as an idol who influenced his approach to basketball and life, often recalling how he tried to emulate Kobe’s clutch moments. He credits Kobe for inspiring a generation of athletes, saying, “we all understood how much basketball meant to him and how he pushed the game to new heights”.

Curry has publicly admired Kobe’s advocacy for girls’ and women’s basketball, particularly his investment in Gigi’s team and his promotion of girls’ participation in the sport. Curry said, “He was the first one I saw consistently and to the masses, promoting it. Not just Gigi’s team, but girls’ basketball in general… He was an unbelievable role model in terms of putting his name and stamp on women’s basketball as something to invest in”.

Curry has continued to support expanding opportunities for young girls in sports, inspired by Kobe’s work.

Kobe Bryant famously rotated through multiple brands when he became a sneaker free agent in 2002–03, but that took months of behind-the-scenes testing. Stephen Curry is ultra particular about traction, grip, and support.

The Funniest Twist: De’Aaron Fox Wearing Curry Brand… While Steph Isn’t

De’Aaron Fox, now the Spurs’ lead guard, is still a Curry Brand athlete.

He has:

• Curry Fox 1
  
• Curry Fox 2
  
• Ongoing UA partnership
  

Fox will be wearing Curry-branded Under Armour shoes… while Curry himself technically doesn’t represent the brand anymore.

It’s a quiet statement: the old chapter is over, the new one starts now. And over the next few months, every sneaker choice Curry makes will send a message to the entire industry.

Tonight just happens to be the moment the world starts watching his feet more than ever.