Stephen Curry might technically be a free agent-but only when it comes to his sneakers. Warriors fans can breathe easy: Steph isn’t going anywhere in terms of basketball.
But his feet? They’re exploring the market.
Earlier this year, Curry ended his 13-year relationship with Under Armour, a move that caught plenty of people off guard. After all, he’d inked a lifetime deal with the brand just back in 2023, a contract that made him the President of the Curry Brand. That kind of title doesn’t usually come with an expiration date.
But here we are. While Curry retains the rights to his personal brand, he’s now a sneaker free agent, and the basketball world is watching closely to see where he lands next.
On Monday night, during the Warriors’ matchup with the Orlando Magic, Curry turned heads again-this time with what he had on his feet. He hit the court wearing Li-Ning’s “Snake Spirit” JB 3s, the signature shoe of his teammate Jimmy Butler.
With Golden State rocking their “The Town” edition jerseys, the look was as sharp as it was symbolic. Matching kicks, matching energy.
This wasn’t a one-time thing, either. Curry first laced up Butler’s signature JB4s back in November.
Butler admitted he was caught off guard, saying, “It was crazy because I didn’t know that that was going to happen. We talked about just getting him a pair of my sneakers.”
That moment seemed like a fun gesture at the time-but now, it’s starting to look more like a preview.
Still, Steph hasn’t committed to anything yet. Over the past few weeks, he’s been seen warming up in a rotating cast of signature sneakers-Kobe Bryant’s iconic Nikes, Anthony Edwards’ shoes, and Devin Booker’s kicks have all made appearances. It’s a sneaker free-agency tour, and Curry is making the most of it.
What’s clear is that Curry’s next move will be a major one. Whether he aligns with a global heavyweight like Nike, Puma, or Adidas, or takes a different route with a rising brand like Li-Ning, the deal won’t just be about shoes-it’ll be about legacy. And with Curry holding the keys to his own brand, there’s always the possibility he charts a new path entirely.
For now, the only certainty is that the sneaker world is watching. And Steph? He’s enjoying every step of the process.