Stephen Curry Will Never Forget One Kobe Bryant Encounter That Hit Hard

In a quiet offseason for the Warriors, Stephen Curry has been anything but. As his new book, Shot Ready, hit the shelves, Curry is reflecting on a career built by defying expectations. Yet, there’s one moment he can’t shake—a preseason encounter with the late Kobe Bryant that left him physically overpowered and humbled. That “welcome to the NBA” moment, however, was just the beginning of a larger story between two legends with strikingly similar, and yet completely different, legacies.

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The Tonight Show, he recalled a chapter from his book: “That was kind of my welcome-to-the-NBA moment. A preseason game. I got switched onto him. And he was giving me those, like, body blows with his elbow. And then my naive self is looking at the ref, like, asking for a call, like they’re going to give me a call over Kobe Bryant. And then he caught the ball, did a little left-shoulder fadeaway and then ran down the court. And I was like, ‘Alright, alright. Welcome to the NBA.'”

Steph Curry has previously reflected on his first real taste of Bryant’s dominance, calling it a “humbling experience” that made him realize he needed to put on some weight. “I literally couldn’t move. He just had me. With one hand, he controlled all 175 pounds of me,” Curry said of Kobe. That intensity carried over into their careers, and the numbers back it up. Kobe played 20 NBA seasons to Curry’s 16, appeared in 18 All-Star Games compared to 11 for Curry, and pulled down more total rebounds (7,047 to 4,819) and blocks (640 to 265). Kobe also had more All-Defensive honors (12 total selections) and was a two-time Finals MVP, while Curry has one, showing how Bryant’s dominance wasn’t just about scoring.

Yet Kobe Bryant clearly saw something special in Curry long before most did. On a 2023 episode of The Shop, Killer Mike shared an untold story about Kobe’s belief in the Warriors star. When Killer Mike asked Kobe which player to follow after he retired, Kobe didn’t hesitate. “It’s this kid if he can stay healthy, because he’s skinny… I’m watching him. But I think he’s who you should follow. He’s this kid named Steph Curry,” Kobe said.

And Curry wasn’t just a side story—he pushed back, especially with his efficiency and playmaking. His career 3-point percentage (.423) and free throw percentage (.911) both outshine Kobe’s (.329 and .837), and he edges him in total assists (6,540 to 6,306). In the playoffs, Curry averaged 26.8 points per game compared to Kobe’s 25.6, with more assists (6.1 vs 4.7) and slightly more steals (1.5 vs 1.4). Both legends tried to outdo each other, whether it was Kobe’s 35.4-point best season or Curry’s 8.5 assists per game peak, creating a constant, competitive push that shaped their legacies.

Kobe Bryant didn’t care that Curry was just a rookie back then, and that tough love actually helped him grow. Fast forward to the 2013-14 preseason, Kobe decided to guard Curry full-court, pressuring him the whole way. Curry shook him off for a second and let a clean 3-pointer fly—swish. All Kobe did was smile and give him a pat. That same season, Curry earned his first All-Star nod. “That was kind of his passing-the-torch moment back to me,” Curry said on the Fallon Show.

Inside Steph Curry’s shot-ready mindset

Stephen Curry has always believed that no one else should control his story. “NO ONE gets to write your story but you,” he says, a lesson from his mother that stuck. Over 16 NBA seasons, that philosophy helped him win four championships, earn two MVPs, and become the league’s all-time 3-point leader. Now, Curry is bringing that mindset off the court with his new book, Shot Ready. He describes it as a personal reflection, packed with over 100 photos and insights from his life in and out of basketball. “When I looked through, there were so many memories, lessons, philosophies, things that have helped me get through,” he told Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on TODAY.

But the book is more than a memoir; it’s a guide to the mentality that defines him. Curry explains that being “shot ready” isn’t just about basketball: “Only worrying about the process and not the result is what being ‘shot ready’ is.” He also gives credit to his family, especially his wife Ayesha, for keeping him grounded through all the challenges of his career. “You’ve got to have people around you that see the best in you, as well, and I’ve had those people in my life, and that’s something I get to share throughout the book,” he said. Even with four kids and endless obligations, he and Ayesha are finding joy in the chaos. “It’s a tough balancing act… We’re in love. We’re enjoying it,” he added.

Curry’s path wasn’t free from fear or setbacks. In 2012, a right ankle injury kept him off the court for most of the season, and rehab tested him both physically and mentally. “Plenty of time sitting in my basement in Charlotte with the boot on my ankle… plenty of conversations with my wife about days that we didn’t want to go through a painful rehab session,” he shared.

Yet his love for the game—and the desire to keep playing—kept him pushing forward. As he prepares for his 17th NBA season, Curry reflects on both the past and the future with excitement. “Year 17 sounds insane,” he said. “I’m hyped for it.” Shot Ready captures that journey, combining lessons, memories, and inspiration from a player still shaping his legacy.