Steph Curry, Sneaker Free Agent, Sent Nike a 49-Point Love Letter

News broke on Thursday that Steph Curry, the greatest shooter God has ever handcrafted with precision and petty, officially split from Under Armour after 13 years.

Under Armour announced that the Curry Brand will now operate independently, and Steph himself will also be independent from the company.

The brand said it plans to refocus on developing basketball products strictly under the UA name.

Translation: Steph is free. Curry Brand is free. And Under Armour is… probably pacing somewhere in Baltimore.

Curry Brand launched in 2020, with Steph later taking over as president, and he got a massive equity load in 2023 — the type of stock package that makes your accountant smile for no reason.

But sneaker marriages end too. And this one? Quiet, classy, and mutually “let’s just be friends.”

Then Friday happened.

The man stepped on the court wearing Kobe 6s, a pair that means the world to him, and dropped a 49-piece lemon pepper with extra sauce in a 109-108 win over the Spurs.

Not only that, but he tied a bit of NBA history: it was his second straight 40-ball vs. the Spurs, and he joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players age 37-plus to record back-to-back 40-point games.

MJ, Bron, Steph.

Before the game, Steph found out he was just one 40-point game shy of MJ’s post-30 record of 44.

So naturally he said, “Bet,” and went nuclear.

After the game, he talked about the shoes.

“I’m a free agent… new beginnings,”— Steph Curry, via Anthony Slater (ESPN)

You could see it on his face. It was a weird feeling, a new chapter, and big symbolism.

He said the choice to wear Kobe’s wasn’t some marketing ploy… it was for the Mamba, for Gigi, and because those shoes carry energy.

And clearly that energy was 49 points of pure chaos.

When asked why the Under Armour partnership ended now, Steph kept it grown and professional ... no sub-tweeting, no shade, no drama.

“Just in the best interest of both parties… the sneaker industry is difficult… things change over time.”— via Yahoo Sports

He didn’t lie. The sneaker business is WWE in a boardroom. People switch brands faster than coaches in Phoenix.

But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud:

Steph Curry should sign with Nike. Period.

It makes too much sense. The lineage is right there — MJ ➝ Kobe ➝ LeBron ➝ (Steph?).

The storytelling writes itself. Imagine a Curry line built around quickness, creativity, and chaos. Imagine the colorways. Imagine the kids in AAU begging their parents for them. Imagine resale prices looking like rent.

Given the right silhouette, a Curry Nike shoe would fly off shelves.

What Steph has done for the game deserves a signature line that the culture actually wants to hoop in. No disrespect to Under Armour, but Steph’s legacy deserves a company with a vault full of icons.

And now? He’s a sneaker free agent with a 49-piece résumé builder.

The timing is loud. The message is louder.

Nike… call that man. Or better yet, beg.

Because Steph Curry is a Top 5 point guard of all time, a global icon, and apparently still dropping 40s like he’s 27, not 37.

The Mamba would approve.