When you’re George Kittle - a 6'4", 250-pound All-Pro tight end who bulldozes linebackers for a living - it’s easy to assume you’re one of the bigger guys in any room. But even in a world of giants, perspective can shift fast. Just ask Kittle himself, who recently shared a story about the first time he met Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry - and how it completely threw him off.
“The first time I ever met Steph was actually at a San Francisco Giants baseball game,” Kittle said. “It really messed with my mental state.
When I met him in Perth for the first time, I was like, ah, shoot. I'm not that big.
I'm just not.”
Now, for context: Curry is listed at 6'2", which in everyday life is tall. In the NFL, that’s quarterback height - respectable, even above average depending on the position.
But in the NBA, surrounded by 6'7" wings and 7-foot centers, Curry often looks like the little guy. That contrast can be jarring, even for someone like Kittle, who’s used to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest, strongest athletes in football.
It’s a funny reminder of how different these two sports worlds are. What looks “small” in the NBA would be considered solid size in the NFL. But for Kittle, seeing Curry in person - and realizing he wasn’t towering over him - was a moment of self-awareness that stuck.
And the NBA size comparisons didn’t stop there. Kittle also recalled a courtside experience watching LeBron James - and let’s just say, it left an impression.
“One time I got to sit courtside and watch LeBron do a full-court spin move dunk,” Kittle said. “And I was like, oh my God… just dunking it.
Good for you, man. That’s not me.
We play different games. I would hit him in the knees, though.”
That last line? Classic Kittle.
It’s part admiration, part football instinct. Because while LeBron might dominate with finesse and power above the rim, Kittle lives in the trenches - where hits are low, hard, and constant.
Unfortunately, the 49ers tight end won’t be delivering any of those hits anytime soon. Kittle suffered a torn Achilles during San Francisco’s playoff run, a brutal injury that puts his 2026 season in serious doubt. For a player who’s been a cornerstone of the Niners’ offense - a multi-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro who does everything from sealing the edge in the run game to torching linebackers up the seam - it’s a tough blow.
Kittle’s absence will be felt on the field, no question. But off the field, moments like these remind us why he’s one of the most relatable stars in the league.
He’s a dominant athlete who can still be humbled by a chance meeting with Steph Curry, or awestruck watching LeBron fly down the court. And in a league full of bravado, that kind of honesty - and humor - goes a long way.