Stephen Curry Wears Nike Kobe Sneakers After Under Armour Breakup

After arriving at the Frost Bank Center in team sweats and unbranded slides, Curry wasted no time in signaling his sneaker free agency. The greatest three-point shooter of all time put away his Curry Brand signature line to celebrate his independence while showing respect to his friends.

While it was shocking to see Curry wearing Nike again after their highly publicized breakup in 2013, after a failed meeting with then-Nike executive Nico Harrison, his choice in footwear made sense.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro is the most popular model from Bryant's legendary signature sneaker line. Plus, the "Mabacita Sweet 16" colorway is a heartfelt tribute to Gigi Bryant.

Curry's Sneaker Free Agency

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro "Mabacita Sweet 16" colorway was released on May 1, 2022 (the day of Gigi's 16th birthday). They had a retail price of $180 in adult sizes, but sold out instantly online. The limited-edition colorway now has an average resale price of $638 on StockX.

So far this season, Curry has worn the Curry Series 7, which he called his "basketball super shoe" earlier this summer.

However, the Curry 13, his final Curry Brand x Under Armour shoe, does not launch until February 2026. Additionally, several colorways and apparel collections will be released through October 2026.

Curry's Future Footwear

Curry could continue to wear shoes from different brands, as he is a sneaker free agent. But the future of Curry Brand seems to be in doubt as of now, or perhaps it was just a long-awaited tribute from Curry to the Bryant family.

Curry will get plenty of questions from the media about his footwear situation after tonight's game and throughout the rest of the season. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all your footwear news from the sports world and beyond.

More NBA Footwear News