Since Under Armour announced it would part ways with Steph Curry last week, the two-time MVP has continued to wear Curry Brand shoes during games.
This is despite appearances in Nike and Reebok shoes during warm-ups and tunnel entrances in the three Warriors games since the announcement. Curry even called himself a sneaker “free agent” on Friday night.
Curry does not have a non-compete and is free to sign with another brand immediately, Front Office Sports confirmed last week. But Under Armour’s announcement said that the Curry 13 shoe, the final Curry Brand and Under Armour collaboration, will still be released in February, with additional colorways and apparel available until Curry’s deal with the company ends in October.
So that raises the question: Even if Curry is a sneaker free agent, is he still tied to wearing Curry Brand shoes during games?
The answer is no. The Warriors star is free to wear any brand he chooses, whether in games, warm-ups, or tunnel entrances, Under Armour confirmed to FOS. He is not even required to wear the Curry 13 shoes when they launch in February.
Curry does have some incentive to continue wearing Curry Brand shoes on the court since he is free to take Curry Brand with him to be produced by another company. He owns his intellectual property rights, so he can carry over the brand name and identity if his next partner is willing to take over the subbrand.
Curry may prefer playing in Curry Brand shoes for now. After all, a source close to Curry told FOS the Currys were “built” for the 37-year-old.
“Regardless of having an Under Armour deal or not having an Under Armour deal, he’s not gonna go step on a floor right now and jeopardize his physical wellbeing by wearing something where he could roll an ankle or doesn’t have the same traction. That’s the most important thing to him,” the source said.
He’s played in Curry Series 7—which was released in August—in all but one game this season, according to KikStats. He played in the Curry 12 on Nov. 12, a national game against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs the day before his breakup with Under Armour was announced.
The source also said Curry has been paying “homage” to some legends by sporting their shoes in warm-ups or tunnel walks—and to expect him to continue to do so in the coming games.
“He’s like: ‘Hey, I loved Kobe. I’m gonna wear Kobe’s. Hey, I love Shaq.’ You’re probably going to see some A.I. [Allen Iverson] sneakers,” the source said. “You’re going to see him in warm-ups, in tunnel walks just wearing stuff that to him is personal in terms of some of the greats that played the game before him. He’s just paying his respects.”
