Did Nike Sign Steph Curry?
PublishedQuick Facts
- Steph Curry wore Nike Kobe 6s right after announcing he was leaving Under Armour
- That's prompted people to speculate he signed with Nike
- While he hasn't inked a deal with The Swoosh, he can wear Nike sneakers now
Last week, Steph Curry announced that Curry Brand would be leaving Under Armour, making Steph a free agent in the sneaker game. As part of the separation process, Under Armour will continue to release Under Armour Curry sneakers through October 2026, including the upcoming Curry 13. However, Steph can now wear any shoes he wants on the court. The day following this announcement, Steph laced up a non-Under Armour sneaker for the first time since signing with the brand in 2013. That prompted the question: Did Steph Curry already sign with Nike?
On Friday, November 14, Steph Curry was pictured wearing Nike Kobes just one day after the announcement that he was leaving Under Armour. More specifically, he laced up the Nike Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet 16, which first released in 2022 as a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. As jaw-dropping as this was, he decided to switch into his Under Armour Curry 12 and Curry Series 7 before tip-off, only wearing the Kobe 6s for warm-ups.
In a post-game interview, Curry clarified his reasoning for wearing the sneaker by saying, “I’m a free agent. I’m here for new beginnings.” When asked why he specifically chose to wear the Kobe 6 Mambacitas, he noted how weird it is to see him not wear his own sneakers, but that Kobe Bryant meant so much to the game of basketball and to himself. “I think it speaks for itself what it means. I wanted to take advantage of that moment and pay tribute, and I think it gave me some good energy tonight.”
Now the burning question (which he clearly answered in his post-game interview): did Steph actually sign with Nike? No. Steph isn’t signed with Nike. Technically, he’s still a free agent, which means he can wear whatever sneaker he chooses each night. It seems like he’ll stick to his own Under Armour Curry sneakers for in-game wear, but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him lace up other brands for pre-game warm-ups.
Curry being a sneaker free agent is going to be one of the biggest stories over the coming year, but in reality, Nike is probably not the destination for Steph. It was just announced today that Nike would give rising superstar Cade Cunningham his own signature sneaker in 2027. The brand’s strategy is to invest in the next generation of NBA players, not the old guard. We hate to say it, and it makes us all realize how much time has passed, but Steph is 37 years old and he’s in his 17th NBA season.
We’ll be sure to keep our eyes on what Steph is rocking each night, and if any significant developments occur, we’ll keep you posted on our socials and via the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
