Stephen Curry has never shied away from acknowledging how much Kobe Bryant shaped his journey in the NBA. From his early years as a young guard trying to survive in a league to becoming a global icon himself, Curry has often spoken about lessons learned from watching and facing the Lakers legend. Those moments of inspiration have continued long after Bryant’s untimely passing in 2020.
Curry showed his respect for Kobe Bryant by wearing sneakers connected to Bryant during his ongoing sneaker free agency. That was a symbolic tribute to the late Lakers star. However, the moment didn’t last as intended because Curry felt physical pain or discomfort during the game. As a result, he had to stop wearing those shoes and switch to another pair.
During a game against the Utah Jazz, Curry stepped onto the floor wearing a special edition of Kobe Bryant’s signature sneakers, a pair rarely seen live in action. The design was subtle yet meaningful, with small details that paid homage to Bryant’s career. For Curry, it wasn’t about fashion but about honoring someone who helped him during his early years in the league.
That moment, however, didn’t last long. Midway through the game, Curry experienced an awkward collision that caused discomfort around his knee and ankle. Given that he had already been dealing with soreness in both knees in recent games, the Warriors star made a quick decision to switch shoes to ease the strain.
After taking off Kobe-themed shoes, Curry switched to a pair linked to another former NBA star, Dwyane Wade. That wasn’t a coincidence. Wade is part-owner of the Utah Jazz, so the choice was a quiet show of respect. Curry has worn Wade’s shoes several times during matchups, often picking different colorways and pairs that match the moment.
Following his separation from his long-time shoe brand, Under Armour, Curry has been switching between different iconic sneakers, but he keeps coming back to Kobe’s shoes, showing how much Kobe still inspires him. Curry’s respect for Kobe started early in his career, when facing him on the court was both tough and humbling. Kobe’s pressure pushed Curry to grow as he pushed him to grow.