OK, maybe a little more than a little angst. Within a single 16-second stretch early in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 126-113 victory, the officials initiated three separate reviews for possible flagrant fouls.
Draymond Green earned his second flagrant of the season when review showed he grabbed Karl-Anthony Towns’ ankle on a drive, while Brandin Podziemski and Towns avoided the harsh infraction.
So of course, it was a man who has a self-professed affection for confrontation who starred for the Warriors.
Jimmy Butler put up a hard-earned 32 points, eight rebounds and four assists against his old teammate-turned-enemy Towns, while Steph Curry poured in 27 points and seven assists. Moses Moody made seven 3-pointers to score 21, and Podziemski threw in 19 points of the bench.
“You attack and attack, and then you guard on the other end,” Butler said after putting up 22 shots and making 14 of them.
Towns scored 17 and grabbed 20 rebounds for New York, while Mikal Bridges scored 21 and OG Anunoby scored 25.
Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) reacts after he collided with a New York Knicks player in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State, with an engaged and active Kuminga on the bench after he asked for a trade earlier in the day, was playing the fifth of an eight-game homestand but came out flat.
The Knicks were playing the final leg of a four-game road trip, and were without their best player Jalen Brunson (28.2 points per game) and backup center Mitchell Robinson. Miles McBride scored 25 starting in Brunson’s place.
New York jumped out to a 33-19 lead midway through the first quarter, using their speed advantage to create a plethora of open shots.
Golden State did not stay dormant. Butler scored nine points in the quarter and led a second unit that cut the deficit to just 35-30 by the end of the quarter. The teams then traded leads for the majority of the second quarter and the Warriors went to halftime up 62-59.
“Jimmy was incredible tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s so good, he’s so dominant in a very subtle way. he just controlst heg ame, he never turns it over, creates shots for other people.”
A great stretch from the starting five to begin the third quarter (more on that later) was a large reason Golden State led 99-87 after three quarters.
The Warriors (23-19), after many replay reviews, finished off their fourth win in five games. They will greet Curry’s hometown team, the Charlotte Hornets, on Saturday.
“We’re doing what we’re supposed to dot develop an identity,” Curry said. “We’re trying to create a little bit of a run, especially in this homestand … I like where we’re at, I like the vibes, I like the idea of how we’re playing.
Same starting lineup, interesting results
Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) blocks a shot to New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby (8) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
When Quinten Post checked out with 6:55 left in the first quarter, the Warriors were down 21-11 as the Knicks drove into the paint and sprayed passes to open shooters at will.
This was nothing new for the starting five, which over the last month has put up an abysmal minus-1.3 net rating (113.5 offensive rating and 114.8 defensive rating). The Warriors’ rally began once Post and Moody were phased out for Melton and Gary Payton II.
The second half was a different story. The Warriors were up 81-72 when Post exited for Al Horford, the team outscoring the Knicks 19-13 during the stretch.
Melton-mania
Golden State Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton (8) dribbles around as Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) blocks New York Knicks’ Tyler Kolek (13) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
De’Anthony Melton, minutes restriction be darned as he returns to 100% after ACL rehab, has quietly become the Warriors’ top scorer off the bench. He entered the night having scored in double figures in four consecutive games, including efforts of 22 and 23 points despite only playing around 25 minutes a night.
The combo guard has also become a fixture in Steve Kerr’s crunch time lineup as the team’s designated point of attack defender next to Steph Curry.
He was quieter against New York on the scoresheet (five points) but contributed in other ways, putting up two blocks. He was a stellar plus-17 in 23 minutes played.
Santos injured
Golden State Warriors’ Gui Santos (15) reacts after losing possession of the ball in the third quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Third-year wing Gui Santos has been a source of energy for the Warriors, often sparking the team with offensive boards and other effort plays that do not show up on the stat sheet.
But with 2:21 left in the first quarter, the Brazilian fan favorite crumpled to the floor after a collision with Josh Hart near midcourt. Santos appeared to roll his ankle.
He had to be helped off the court by team doctor Rick Celebrini, and Santos went straight back to the Warriors locker room. He was later diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. Kerr later told media that Santos didn’t expect it to be serious, but that the coach hadn’t talked to Celebrini yet.
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, left, Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski, right, and fellow teammates high-five the starters before an NBA game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) talk one another after the Golden State Warriors 126-113 win of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) push away one another in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) talk one another after the Golden State Warriors 126-113 win of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) defends New York Knicks’ Miles McBride (2) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) blocks a shot to New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) celebrates his three-point basket against the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) celebrates his three-point basket against the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) grabs the foot of New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) after falling while defending in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) head back to the bench during a timeout in the third quarter of an NBA game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton (8) drives to the hoop against New York Knicks’ Tyler Kolek (13) and New York Knicks’ Ariel Hukporti (55) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton (8) makes a shot against the New York Knicks in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) eyes the basket in scoring postion against New York Knicks’ Tyler Kolek (13) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) makes a dunk against New York Knicks’ Josh Hart (3) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Stephen Curry (30) reacts after throwing a wrong pass intended to Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) in the first quarter of an NBA game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) blocks a shot to New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby (8) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The Hawks are beginning a four-game road swing on Friday. Atlanta will start the trip in Denver with a rematch with the Nuggets. Denver came back from a large second-half deficit (as much as 18 points) to defeat Atlanta 134-133 on December 5. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said about the loss, “This one hurts. They all hurt, but particularly how this one happened.” Atlanta guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 30 points, while Denver All-Star Nikola Kokic (NBA rebounding leader with 12 per game, and in assists with 11 per game) led all scorers with 40 points. The Nuggets have been tough to defeat at home this season, and Atlanta, 11-10, is just a game over .500 on the road this season.
The Hawks held Pelicans star Zion Williamson (1) to 13 points during the first half. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
On Sunday, January 11, the Hawks will play the Golden State Warriors for the first time this season. The two teams will meet in Atlanta on March 21. Future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Steph Curry (averaging nearly 30 points per game) has always been a big draw in Atlanta, and the Warriors game should be one of the sellouts that take place at State Farm Arena.
The Lakers will be the next opponent on the road trip. On Tuesday, January 13, the Hawks will play Luka Doncic (NBA scoring leader at 33.7 points per game), LeBron James, and the Lakers for the second time this season. Atlanta defeated Los Angeles 122-108 on Saturday, November 8. The road trip will end in the Pacific Northwest against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, January 15.
Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The Hawks will receive CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Before they left town, the Atlanta Hawks hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, January 7. Atlanta won the game 117-100 without multi-time all-star guard Trae Young. First, the subject of trade rumours, then a trade request, and now a trade to the Washington Wizards. Young could be seen going through his regular warmups before the game. Young was listed as inactive and didn’t play for a consecutive game. The Washington Wizards had been a target trade partner because of several expiring contracts, including guard CJ McCollum’s contract. Despite being in his 13th year in the NBA, McCollum can still play at a high level. He scored 46 points in a 132-113 Wizards victory in D.C. on November 25. Along with McCollum, Wizards guard Corey Kispert was also included in the deal, according to sources.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (above) warmed up before the game on Wednesday night. Young did not play. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Before the game, the DeKalb Path Academy choir sang a beautiful rendition of “We Shall Overcome”. Whether the Hawks will overcome a trade involving one of the franchise’s best and most popular players remains to be seen.
The Hawks began the game against the Pelicans with their strongest first quarter of the week. Atlanta went ahead 23-11 following a three-pointer by second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher. Oft-injured forward Kristaps Porzingis pumped in a pair of three-pointers of his own as well. The first quarter ended with Atlanta ahead 37-26.
Atlanta maintained a double-digit advantage, 53-42, midway through the second quarter courtesy of a third three-pointer of the half from Porzingis. They went into the locker room at halftime ahead 65-53. It was a rare first-half lead for Atlanta, which had lost two straight and eight of its last 10 games.
Atlanta led by as much as 20 points before allowing the Pelicans to cut their deficit to 12 late in the game. Risacher led the Hawks with 25 points, while Porzingis and Luke Kennard each added 13 points. Hawks leading scorer, Jalen Johnson, scored 19 points.
INGLEWOOD – Steve Kerr had finally had enough. After watching Steph Curry’s shot not count as an and-1, and then Gary Payton II’s blocked layup by John Collins not ruled as a goaltend early in the fourth quarter, the longtime Warriors coach lost it once there was a stoppage on a Curry foul.
He berated the referees to such a degree that the usually mild-mannered coach had to be restrained by members of his staff at Intuit Dome on Monday. The officials gave him technical fouls in rapid succession, and Kerr had to make the long walk back to the locker room with 7:57 left in the game after being ejected for the fifth time in his career, and first time since Mar. 28, 2022.
Terry Stotts, who coached Portland for nine seasons between 2012-21, took over as the Warriors’ acting coach. He oversaw a spirited effort that ultimately fell short as the Warriors lost 103-102 to a Clippers team missing James Harden.
Golden State shot just 3 of 24 in the third quarter, but somehow remained in the game, thanks to 10-2 run to start the fourth, a run fueled by the energy of Payton and Gui Santos. And after Kerr’s ejection, the Warriors remained competitive and trailed 94-90 with 3:06 left after Jimmy Butler made two free throws.
Curry cut the lead to just 101-100 with 1:05 left after his 3-pointer bounced off the rim and in, but he fouled out when he swiped down on Kris Dunn’s arm on the very next possession. Dunn’s two free throws extended the lead back to three points with 43 seconds remaining. Green’s layup made it 103-102 with 33 seconds left on the clock.
Kawhi Leonard missed a long 3-pointer, and the Warriors had the ball with seven seconds remaining. However, Butler’s fadeaway from the baseline went long and the Clippers held on.
Curry put up 27 points for the Warriors, while Butler scored 24 and Draymond Green dished out 12 assists. Leonard put up 24 points, and Kobe Sanders had 20 points. The Warriors actually had fewer turnovers than the point guard-less Clippers, winning the margin 20-7.
The hosts led 31-19 after one quarter, but the Warriors cut the deficit to just 55-51 at halftime. This came despite Golden State being a ghastly 5 of 22 from behind the arc. The team finished 10 of 41 from behind the line.
The Warriors (19-18) begin an eight-game homestand against Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Draymond Green’s rough night
Having been ejected from Monday’s game and having not finished three of the past eight games, Draymond Green was under a microscope Wednesday night.
After diving into the Warriors bench late in the second quarter, a crash that left his ribs bruised, he left the game but returned after halftime. That lasted all of two minutes, with Green leaving the game again after rolling his left ankle after defending a Leonard drive. He returned after the timeout.
Green drew a few groans from the mostly pro-Warriors crowd in SoCal when he took and missed a 3-pointer on three of the first four Golden State possessions, but he was an overwhelming positive overall.
Green finished the first half with a plus-11 in the box score, after being in the negative in 9 of his last 11 games. Despite giving up at least five inches and around 50 pounds to Ivica Zubac, Green used his low center of gravity to make it difficult for the Croatian center to get good position.
Stopping Kawhi
Leonard, who entered the game with arguably the hottest hand in the NBA. He won the conference player of the week honor after averaging 41.3 points per game last week, which he supplemented by maintaining his NBA-best 2.17 steals per game.
The Warriors initially began the game in single coverage against the two-time Finals MVP, which led to him scoring 10 first-quarter points. But when they began to send doubles his way, usually asking a guard to dig down, that left Nic Batum open for back-to-back corner 3-pointers.
The only consistently positive outcomes for Warrior defenders came when they forced the midrange assassin to take a few steps back. Leonard was 0 of 6 from behind the arc in the first half. Leonard took only one 3-point shot in the second half.
Snoop Dogg stars
Legendary rapper Snoop Dogg made his broadcasting debut when he joined the NBA on NBC television production as a commentator. The Long Beach native has plenty of fans among the Warriors, including Kerr and Moses Moody.
Kerr joked about Snoop’s presence around the Olympic team in 2024 and said he looked forward to his pre-production meeting with the man. Moody, who counted “Gin and Juice” as his favorite Snoop track, saw the rapper’s presence at the regular-season NBA game as a positive.
“I really like the niche that he’s carved out for himself now in the business space,” Moody said. “I like what he adds, and it’s cool to see it on the NBA stage.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler likes to refer to Steph Curry as “Batman,” an otherworldly talent who can bail the Warriors out of many a tough spot.
After a five-game absence caused by a left quad injury suffered on Nov. 26 against the Rockets, Golden State’s superhero is set to return during Friday’s home game against the Timberwolves.
The Warriors will have had four days off between Sunday’s blowout victory in Chicago and the matchup with Minnesota, thanks to the NBA Cup schedule.
Curry spent the last three road games working out with the Warriors’ medical staff in the Bay Area and practiced with the team at Chase Center on Wednesday afternoon.
“For Friday, he’s day-to-day, but it’s looking good,” coach Steve Kerr said.
Curry was a full participant in practice, and was involved in the team’s scrimmage.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) pauses as he holds his leg in pain in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The team survived Curry’s absence, going 3-2 and putting up a surprising 2-1 record on the most recent Eastern Conference trip to Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago.
Unheralded 29-year-old guard Pat Spencer was a revelation as an athletic and energetic pick-and-roll guard, scoring in double-figures in each of the last four games while starting twice.
Spencer will head back to the bench as Golden State’s franchise player returns, but still expect him to get plenty of minutes.
“I think it’s the shooting, the threat from long range,” Kerr said of Spencer. “He’ll be in the rotation for sure.”.
In his 17th season, Curry has remained an elite player. He is averaging 27.9 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 39.1% from behind the 3-point line.
He has scored at least 30 points in seven of the 16 games he has played this season, including three 40-point games.
This was the second absence of the season for Curry. He missed three games in October and early November with a severe illness that had him bedridden for several days.
Frontcourt veteran Draymond Green (right foot) is expected to be available for Friday’s matchup with Minnesota, the first time the teams have played since the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in five games during the second round of last spring’s playoffs.
Green missed the past two games with a right foot sprain suffered during the Philadelphia loss, which is also the last game Al Horford played. Horford has played in only one game since Nov. 21 against the Trail Blazers, and will remain out for Friday with sciatica.
While Curry, Green and Horford are expected to receive minutes, Jonathan Kuminga’s status is uncertain.
The forward, who signed a two-year, $46 million extension this summer, was a healthy scratch for the Warriors in Chicago, drawing speculation about his future with the team. Kerr said he spoke to Kuminga before practice, and is willing to be “coached hard.”
“I can imagine it’s not easy for him, and we’ve talked about the situation,” Kerr said. “My desire for JK is for him to become the best player he can be, regardless of where he ends up, whether it’s here or elsewhere.”
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1) and Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) sit courtside before the start of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Under Armour announced November 13 that it’s cutting ties with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. The two have been engaged in partnership since Curry left Nike in 2013.
While his shoe company, Curry Brand, is moving on alone, Curry said the severance won’t affect how he operates.
“What Curry Brand stands for, what I stand for and my commitment to that mission will never change,” he said in a release. “It’s only growing stronger. I’m excited for a future that’s focused on aggressive growth with a continued commitment to keep showing up for the next generation.”
The exact reason for the breakup is still unclear. According to a review of transcripts starting in 2016, Curry has been mentioned in nearly all of Under Armour’s quarterly earnings calls in the last nine years. But he wasn’t mentioned at all in the most recent call last week.
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Under Armour’s basketball business, along with Curry Brand, should earn the company from $100 million to $120 million in total revenue this fiscal year. It said it doesn’t expect the end of the partnership to have a “significant effect” on its finances.
But the sports apparel company overall may not be in as strong of a position. Its sales have been dropping for the past eight quarters, and it’s seen several changes in leadership. Under Armour is also undergoing reconstruction, which it expects to cost $255 million.
“For Under Armour, this moment is about discipline and focus on the core UA brand during a critical stage of our turnaround,” CEO Kevin Plank said in a statement. “And for Stephen, it’s the right moment to let what we created evolve on his terms. We’ll always be grateful for what he’s brought to the UA team.”
Under Armour is struggling to compete against newer players like On and Hoka. To battle an impending decline, Plank is working on a fresh strategy to redefine the brand, according to CNBC. He says the shift will be noticeable in stores and online soon.
The Curry 13, the last shoe made in collaboration with Under Armour, will be released in February. The athlete is now expected to have the option to partner with and wear other brands.
“Under Armour believed in me early in my career and gave me the space to build something much bigger and more impactful than a shoe,” Curry said in a news release. “I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Leading throughout the second half by as much as 17, the Warriors were threatened by a late LA rally that trimmed with margin to as little as six (105-99, 3:59 remaining) but managed to hang on behind Butler and Curry.
Luka Dončić scored a game-high 43 points, adding 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Here are three observations from the first of four meetings with their Southern California rivals, who were without LeBron James, who is out with sciatica:
Robin does a Batman turn
After hobbling through the preseason on a bum left ankle that forced him to miss three of the five games, Butler, aka Robin to Curry’s Batman, wasted no time showing he was ready for the season to start.
Listed as “probable” on the team injury report, Butler put the Warriors on his back from the opening tip, pouring in 12 of their 28 first-quarter points in his first nine minutes. He drained a 3-pointer within the first two minutes and shot 7-of-7 from the line.
The other four starters combined for 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting in the opening quarter.
Butler’s early blast was crucial to the Warriors taking a 28-22 lead into the third quarter.
Butler’s 31 points came on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including 1-of-2 from distance and 16-of-16 from the line. He was plus-20 over 34 minutes.
The results? The MVP candidate taught Kuminga a few lessons. Dončić’s 43 points came on 17-of-27 shooting from the field but only 2-of-10 from deep as Golden State limited LA to 25 percent from deep.
On offense, however, Kuminga punished the Lakers, his 17 points coming on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from deep. The four triples tie his career high. He added a team-high nine rebounds, with six assists. He finished plus-4 over 33 minutes.
Kuminga was the catalyst during a third quarter in which the Warriors outscored LA 35-25, scoring 13 points in nine minutes on 5-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 beyond the arc.
Though Kuminga likely will come off the bench when everyone is healthy, the age of the veterans on the roster ensures there is no doubt he’ll get many more opportunities to start.
Horford’s debut
Kerr indicated throughout the preseason that he wasn’t sure if Al Horford would open the season as the starting center. His concern centered on finding the proper distribution of minutes to get the most out of the 39-year-old vet.
Feeling comfortable with Draymond Green’s ability to defend 7-foot Lakers center Deandre Ayton, Kerr brought Horford off the bench to replace Green with 5:40 left in the first quarter, keeping his minutes to intervals of no more than six minutes.
Horford’s performance was a mixed bag. Playing 20 minutes, he totaled five points and five rebounds while committing four fouls and two turnovers. He was minus-10 for the night.
The internet just won’t let up on Ayesha Curry. After her ‘Call Her Daddy’ interview blew up online due to comments she made about her marriage to Steph Curry, old clips from past appearances have started popping up too. In one trending clip, Ayesha said she thought her life would be completely different–no marriage or kids. Another viral clip shows her playful reaction to another man during a talk show interview. Let’s get into the resurfaced clips that have the internet coming for her again!
Resurfaced Clip Shows Ayesha Curry Commenting On Marriage To Steph Curry
Okay, so BOOM! An old clip of Ayesha Curry from season 4 of ‘The Real’ talk show is spinning the block on Instagram right now. Fans swear the video proves she’s been playing in Steph Curry’s face. In the clip, a shirtless man walks out with drinks, abs on full display, and Ayesha reacts by jokingly trying to slide off her wedding ring. Sis was clearly just playing, and even the show’s hosts thought her gesture was funny. But folks in the comment section of askablkman’s video weren’t amused! Some even called it straight-up embarrassing. Peep the footage below.
Here’s What Ayesha Said About Marriage & Children
And then came another one! The internet wasted no time cutting up after Ayesha Curry admitted on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast that she didn’t always want marriage or kids.
“I thought I was going to be a career girl and that’s it! I had my eyes set on goals… I was never the little girl that dreamt about the wedding dress and all of that,” Ayesha said during the interview.
She explained that she’s always been locked in on her goals, even after becoming a mom. Ayesha said she loves motherhood but still feels she’s meant to do more. “After my daughter turned one, I remember there being a shift… I have goals for myself, this doesn’t feel right. I love being a mom, but I love doing other things too,” she added. The interview dropped a month ago, but folks online still are split over whether she went too far with her comments.
Ayesha curry is living proof that no matter if your rich and successful women will still find a way to complain https://t.co/sC5B65oyfJ
The Internet Weighs In On Ayesha’s Comments About Marriage
After TSR shared the video of Ayesha’s interview, the comment section lit up with reactions. Some thought her responses were disrespectful while others didn’t see the issue. A few even defended her, pointing out that she praised Steph a lot throughout the chat.
Instagram user @allanpachino wrote, “What’s wrong with not wanting something in the beginning then being pleasantly surprised and happy with what you got? Why is this a topic. She said nothing wrong.🤷🏿♂️”
Instagram user @shanae310 wrote, “She didn’t say, she regretted any of it. She just had her life planned out and ahead of her🤷🏾♀️”
While Instagram user @she_tu wrote, “All I got from that interview was that she didn’t imagine her life as a mother and wife UNTIL SHE MET HER MAN! 😍😍😍”
Then Instagram user @melle_j_ wrote, “Baby I have three children and that absolutely was not the plan 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Another Instagram user @candyyyashley wrote, “She ain’t said nothing wrong. Y’all want her husband to leave her so bad 😂”
Instagram user @candy_yamz wrote, “She said what 85 percent of women feel but won’t say out loud.”
While another Instagram user @foreverjonezin wrote, “The way y’all took what she said way out of context is crazy 😂”
Then another Instagram user @elhazael715 wrote, “Just imagine if Steph said the EXACT SAME THING that Ayesha said & then tell us what your reaction would be…”
Finally, Instagram user @landonromano wrote, “What ppl want out of life changes all the time that’s normal . Look at y’all exes at one point that’s what YOU wanted 😂😂 see how that work.”
This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: Prime Video
Prime Video released the official trailer and key art for Allen Iv3rson, a three-part docuseries from Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends (a division of Authentic Studios) and Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton’s Unanimous Media about the inspiring journey of former NBA superstar Allen Iverson.
Directed by One9, the documentarywill premiere exclusively on Prime Video on October 23 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide and is the latest addition to the Prime membership.
Prime members enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.
Allen Iv3rson is a three-part docuseries about the captivating life of basketball legend and global sensation Allen Iverson, whose authentic voice and unapologetic expression of style paved the way for future generations and revolutionized the culture of the NBA.
From his origins in Hampton, VA, to his ascent as one of the most tenacious and exhilarating basketball players of all time, Iverson fearlessly embraced his individuality both on and off the court.
Credit; Prime Video
His magnetic personality and fierce competitive spirit endeared him to fans, teammates, and opposing players alike. Now, through unprecedented access and personal stories, along with intimate interviews with family, friends, and fellow NBA players and coaches, Iverson shares a more reflective side of his present-day self, as he takes us on a journey through his storied history into the present day, where he realizes his cultural impact long after his playing days have come to an end.
Presented by Prime Video Sports, Allen Iv3rson is produced by Jersey Legends (a division of Authentic Studios) and Unanimous Media.
The film is directed by One9, with Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Colin Smeeton, Mike Parris, and One9 serving as executive producers.
If you want to brush up on some skills or learn new ones, MasterClass offers a good way to do just that. The streaming service has hundreds of classes taught by professionals and experts in their fields, and now you can get a subscription for 50 percent less than usual. All MasterClass membership tiers are on sale right now, so you can sign up for as low as $5 per month.
With a subscription, you could watch a class on writing taught by James Patterson, or learn cooking techniques from Thomas Keller. If you’re trying to impress at your next pickup basketball game you could learn about shooting, ball-handling and scoring from Steph Curry. Each class includes around 20 video lessons that run about 10 minutes long on average, as well as an in-depth workbook.
MasterClass
A MasterClass subscription is 50 percent off during this Labor Day sale.
MasterClass has also begun producing some original series for its platform. The series Business Rebels features different CEOs walking viewers through the strategies that helped them disrupt their industries. One entitled Skin Health features top dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist walking viewers through keeping their skin healthy through cleansing routines and specific beauty products.
The wide range of skills or life lessons you could learn through these classes is why MasterClass is on our list of best subscriptions you can give as gifts. Maybe your loved one who loves to host dinner parties could use some tips from Gordon Ramsay.
There are three subscription tiers for MasterClass that each differ only in how many devices they allow at one time, and whether offline videos are supported. The Standard subscription only supports one device, whereas the Plus subscription allows two. These are normally $10 and $15 per month, respectively, and neither offers offline mode. The Premium tier, which carries a regular price of $20 per month, allows up to six devices and features offline mode for downloaded classes.
All three tiers are part of the 50 percent off sale, which marks them down to $5, $8 and $10 respectively. MasterClass bills annually, so be sure to calculate the total from the “monthly” price before deciding.
MasterClass promises online learning with instructors who are the very best in their fields, and an annual subscription is currently 50 percent off across all tiers. Subscribers to MasterClass will have access to over 200 classes taught by iconic authors, chefs, athletes and leaders representing a diverse collection of skill sets and backgrounds.
With a subscription, you could watch a class on writing taught by James Patterson, or learn cooking techniques from Thomas Keller. If you’re trying to impress at your next pickup basketball game you could learn about shooting, ball-handling and scoring from Steph Curry. Each class includes around 20 video lessons that run about 10 minutes long on average, as well as an in-depth workbook.
MasterClass
A MasterClass subscription is 50 percent off during this Labor Day sale.
MasterClass has also begun producing some original series for its platform. The series Business Rebels features different CEOs walking viewers through the strategies that helped them disrupt their industries. One entitled Skin Health features top dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist walking viewers through keeping their skin healthy through cleansing routines and specific beauty products.
The wide range of skills or life lessons you could learn through these classes is why MasterClass is on our list of best subscriptions you can give as gifts. Maybe your loved one who loves to host dinner parties could use some tips from Gordon Ramsay.
There are three subscription tiers for MasterClass that each differ only in how many devices they allow at one time, and whether offline videos are supported. The Standard subscription only supports one device, whereas the Plus subscription allows two. These are normally $10 and $15 per month, respectively, and neither offers offline mode. The Premium tier, which carries a regular price of $20 per month, allows up to six devices and features offline mode for downloaded classes.
All three tiers are part of the 50 percent off sale, which marks them down to $5, $8 and $10 respectively. MasterClass bills annually, so be sure to calculate the total from the “monthly” price before deciding.
If you want to brush up on some skills or learn new ones, MasterClass offers a good way to do just that. The streaming service has hundreds of classes taught by professionals and experts in their fields, and now you can get a subscription for 50 percent less than usual. All MasterClass membership tiers are on sale right now, so you can sign up for as low as $5 per month.
With a subscription, you could watch a class on writing taught by James Patterson, or learn cooking techniques from Thomas Keller. If you’re trying to impress at your next pickup basketball game you could learn about shooting, ball-handling and scoring from Steph Curry. Each class includes around 20 video lessons that run about 10 minutes long on average, as well as an in-depth workbook.
MasterClass
A MasterClass subscription is 50 percent off during this Labor Day sale.
MasterClass has also begun producing some original series for its platform. The series Business Rebels features different CEOs walking viewers through the strategies that helped them disrupt their industries. One entitled Skin Health features top dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist walking viewers through keeping their skin healthy through cleansing routines and specific beauty products.
The wide range of skills or life lessons you could learn through these classes is why MasterClass is on our list of best subscriptions you can give as gifts. Maybe your loved one who loves to host dinner parties could use some tips from Gordon Ramsay.
There are three subscription tiers for MasterClass that each differ only in how many devices they allow at one time, and whether offline videos are supported. The Standard subscription only supports one device, whereas the Plus subscription allows two. These are normally $10 and $15 per month, respectively, and neither offers offline mode. The Premium tier, which carries a regular price of $20 per month, allows up to six devices and features offline mode for downloaded classes.
All three tiers are part of the 50 percent off sale, which marks them down to $5, $8 and $10 respectively. MasterClass bills annually, so be sure to calculate the total from the “monthly” price before deciding.
Stephen Curry, the three-point-draining Golden State Warrior and NBA All-Star who just won a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics, appeared via video at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the nation’s next president.
Curry, with his gold medal around his neck, said the “unity on and off the court” at the Olympics “reminded us all that together we can do all things and continue to inspire the world.”
“And that’s why I believe that Kamala as president could bring unity back and continue to move our country forward,” he said. “This is about preserving hope and belief in our country, making sure families can be taken care of during their most precious times.”
Curry’s remarks came two days after Steve Kerr, coach of Team USA in Paris and of multiple championship-winning Warriors teams, spoke in person at the Democrats’ convention in Chicago. He also endorsed Harris and her vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Kerr said leaders must “display dignity,” “tell the truth” and “care for and love the people that they are leading.” Harris and Walz, he said, have those qualities. His insinuation was clearly that former President Trump does not.
Kerr, one of the NBA’s most liberal voices and someone who has sparred with Trump in the past, also said that after the election results are tallied in November, “we can — in the words of the great Steph Curry — we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’”
Curry’s “night, night” gesture is something he does after scoring against opponents on the court, where he rests his face on his hands as if heading to sleep — a suggestion that the game is all but over.
Curry did not make the gesture himself in his video Thursday. But he did note his visit with the Warriors to the White House last year to celebrate the team’s 2022 NBA title at the invitation of President Biden. That’s where he met Harris.
“I can tell you one thing I knew then and I definitely know now: The Oval Office suits her well,” he said.
Curry closed his short video by referencing another DNC speaker — and perhaps its most celebrated speech.
“In the words of Michelle Obama, ‘Do something!’” Curry said to cheers from the convention floor. “Go vote, be active. Let’s show out in November like never before.”
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise on Day Two of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 28, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Elsa/Getty Images
The highly-anticipated 2024 Summer Olympic Games are just around the corner with star athletes already taking their rightful place on Team USA. The Paris Summer Games promise to deliver a roster filled with the sports world’s top talent, including Steph Curry, LeBron James, Scottie Scheffler, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Kevin Durant, Sha’Carri Richardson and more.
While athletes prepare for the Paris Summer Olympics, it’s the perfect time for fans to gear up to watch their favorite athletes go for the gold. This is your ultimate 2024 Summer Olympics viewing guide.
When are the 2024 Summer Olympic Games?
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from Friday, July 26, 2024, through Sunday, August 11, 2024.
What is the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games?
The host city for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be Paris, France.
How to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics
NBC and Telemundo will broadcast at least nine hours of coverage from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET each day. Some events will air on the USA Network, Golf Channel, CNBC and E!.
Peacockwill livestream every event of the Paris 2024 Olympics, including the opening and closing ceremonies and every Olympic basketball game.
How to watch the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games without cable
While many cable packages include NBC and the other channels broadcasting the 2024 Summer Olympics, it’s easy to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics if those channels aren’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)
In addition to major sporting events like the 2024 Paris Olympics, Peacock offers its subscribers live-streaming access to NFL games that air on NBC and sports airing on USA Network. The streaming service has plenty more live sports to offer, including Big Ten basketball, Premier League soccer and WWE wrestling (including formerly PPV-only events such as WrestleMania). There are 80,000 hours worth of recorded content to watch as well, including hit movies and TV series such as “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.”
A Peacock subscription costs $6 per month. An annual plan is available for $60 per year (best value). You can cancel anytime.
Top features of Peacock:
Peacock’s Olympic coverage will include “multi-view” options in which fans can curate their viewing journey, choosing the Olympic events they are most interested in watching.
Peacock will air exclusive coverage of PGA Tour events, Olympic trials and Paris Olympics 2024 events.
Peacock features plenty of current and classic NBC and Bravo TV shows, plus original programming such as the award-winning reality show “The Traitors.”
If you don’t have cable TV that includes NBC, one of the most cost-effective ways to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer also offers access to Olympic qualifiers, the 2024 Paris Games, NFL football airing on NBC, Fox and ABC (where available) and NFL Network with its Orange + Blue plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all the season’s top NFL matchups.
That Orange + Blue plan normally costs $60 per month, but the streamer is currently offering a 50% off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30. Sports fans may want to up their coverage with the Sports Extra plan, which costs $11 per month, and includes Golf Channel among others. You can learn more by tapping the button below.
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:
Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like Wimbledon.
There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (19 in total) via Sling TV’s Sports Extras add-on.
You can also catch the 2024 Summer Olympics airing on network TV on Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to network-aired sports like the Tour de France, and almost every NFL game next season. Packages include the live feed of sports and programming airing on CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network and more, so you’ll be able to watch more than just the Summer Olympics- all without a cable subscription.
To watch the 2024 Summer Olympic Games without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to Olympic events, you’ll have access to NFL football, Fubo offers NCAA college sports, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. Fubo’s Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.
Sports fans will want to consider adding on the $7.99 per month Fubo Extra package, which includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network and more channels. Or upgrade to the Fubo Elite tier and get all the Fubo Extra channels, plus the ability to stream in 4K, for an extra $10 per month.
Top features of Fubo Pro Tier:
There are no contracts with Fubo — you can cancel at any time.
You can watch sporting events up to 72 hours after they air live with Fubo’s lookback feature.
The Pro tier includes over 180 channels, including NFL Network and Golf Channel.
Fubo includes all the channels you’ll need to watch college and pro sports, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
You can watch the 2024 Summer Olympics and more top-tier sports coverage, including NFL Network, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including Golf Channel. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and every NFL game on every network next season with Hulu + Live TV, plus exclusive live regular season NFL games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month.
Watch the 2024 Summer Olympic Games live with a digital HDTV antenna
Amazon
You can also watch the 2024 Summer Olympic Games airing on network TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here’s the kicker: There’s no monthly charge.
For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal — or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch sports without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.
This ultra-thin, multi-directional Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro digital antenna with a 65-mile range can receive hundreds of HD TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox and Univision, and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV, top-tier sound and comes with a 12-foot digital coax cable.
This antenna is currently $56 at Amazon, reduced from $70 with coupon.
2024 Summer Olympic Games schedule: Key dates
Getty Images
Below are key dates for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. For a full broadcast schedule of all events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, tap here.
Key dates for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games
Olympic Village Opens: July 13
Torch Relay in Paris: July 20 – July 26
Gymnastics: July 27 – August 5
Swimming: July 27 – August 4
Track and Field: August 1 – August 11
Breaking: August 9 and 10
Basketball: July 28 – August 9
Soccer: July 24 – August 10
Cycling (Track): August 1 – August 5
Volleyball: July 28 – August 11
Closing Ceremony: August 11
What new sports are included in the 2024 Summer Olympics?
32 sports will be represented at the Paris 2024 Olympics, including four new additions to the official competition: breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing. All competitions will take place in and around Paris, save for the surfing competitions which will take place in Tahiti, a part of French Polynesia.
Fans may remember skateboarding and surfing made brief appearances at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Both sports make their official Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games this summer.
What is the official mascot of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?
Paris 2024
The official mascot of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is called the Olympic Phryge. It is an adorable rendition of traditional small Phrygian hats. Decked out in red, white and blue, the colors of France’s famous tricolor flag, the Olympic Phryge symbolizes freedom throughout French history.
When is the 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony is scheduled for July 26, 2024. For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony won’t take place in a stadium. Instead, this summer’s opening ceremony will bring sports to the heart of Paris via the Seine River.
The 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony will consist of boats for each national designation traveling up the Seine through the center of Paris. Going from east to west, 10,500 athletes will cross through Paris before finally landing in front of the Trocadéro, where the remainder of the opening ceremony will take place.
Is LeBron James competing for Team USA?
Not only is Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James scheduled to compete for Team USA, but the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will reunite former Golden State Warriors teammates Steph Curry and Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns).
Other famous faces fans can expect to see on the basketball court competing for Team USA include Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves). Edwards’ teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be on the court for the U.S. this summer, but will be competing for the Greek national team.
Team USA’s women’s basketball roster is equally star packed. Though Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark didn’t make the team this year, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu will be representing the U.S. alongside Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces).
Other notable athletes who have punched a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics include track star Sha’Carri Richardson, golf star Scottie Scheffler, No. 1- ranked Nelly Korda, 20-year-old tennis sensation Coco Gauff and No. 5-ranked tennis ace Jessica Pegula.
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, have welcomed their fourth child.
The couple announced on social media Sunday that Ayesha gave birth to a baby boy named Caius Chai on May 11.
“Our sweet baby boy decided to make an early arrival!!” the couple wrote on Instagram. “He’s doing great and we are finally settling in at home as a family of 6! So grateful!”
The couple now has two girls and two boys: daughters Riley, 11, and Ryan, 8, and son Canon, 5.
Ayesha Curry, 35, revealed in March in the magazine she founded, Sweet July, that the couple was expecting her fourth child after the two initially believed that they would not have any more children.
“For so many years, Stephen and I thought we were done,” Ayesha wrote. “We said, “Three, that’s it, we’re not doing this again.” And then, last year, we looked at each other and agreed we wanted to do this again. For me, the decision came from always finding myself looking around and feeling like somebody was missing. I would load up the car and think, “Oh, I forgot something.” But nobody was forgotten.
“It started to turn my brain a little bit. Maybe somebody was missing. So we set out on this journey, knowing that this would complete our family.”
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha Curry lead cheers for Oakland Marathon runners.(Desmond Gribben for Eat. Learn. Play.)
Steph Curry posted a photo of his pregnant wife wearing white high heels and a white bra under a brown blazer on March 1, saying they were getting ready to welcome “Vol. 4” of their family.
Steph met Ayesha when they were both teenagers. On March 23, Ayesha’s birthday, Curry wrote on Instagram, “My woman!!!! @ayeshacurry Taking this moment to shout you from the roof tops and say Happy Birthday 🎉🥳🎊. You are everything to me and our beautiful family.
“The smile and the goofiness that lights up the room. But always count on you to keep it real and keep our family pushing forward. I LOVE YOU 🙌🏽 more life!”
You know the lore behind many men’s basketball greats: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajewon, Allen Iverson, Wilt Chamberlain…I could go on. We talk about shoe deals and the dominance of iconic brands like Nike and Converse thanks to the success of basketball.
I could name almost every team in the men’s National Basketball Association off the top of my head. I know star players like Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Steph Curry. I can argue with the best of them that Embiid is a better center than Nikola Jokic…but what about the WNBA?
Women’s basketball has scandalously been a fourth-world sport for close to 30 years. The salaries barely above a livable wage, the game attendance often lackluster at best, the buzz behind jersey sales and star players is minimal. In fact, you rarely see many front-page stories on women basketball professionals.
All it takes is one…as Nike told Michael Jordan: it’s not about the shoe, but who’s wearing the shoe. Over the past few years, it hasn’t been the WNBA that’s drawing attention to women’s basketball…but the NCAA Women’s Basketball League.
“The One” in question is Iowa Hawkeye, Caitlin Clark. During the month of March, NBA devotees ripped their attention away to the NCAA March Madness tournament. And while the men’s teams generally dominate our screens, the women have recently stolen the show.
Who Is Caitlin Clark?
Caitlin Clark
AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Hailing from Des Moines, Caitlin Clark quickly became one of the most talked about players in college basketball. This past season, the 6-foot guard averaged 32 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. She’s widely regarded as one of the greatest female basketball players of all time, and she’s only 22 years old.
As a senior with another year of eligibility due to the pandemic, Clark has options. She can continue to eviscerate all competition in her path and continue working towards an NCAA championship…or she can test her luck in the WNBA. And then there are the multi-million dollar offers from 50 Cent and Barstool’s Dave Portnoy to play in their respective leagues.
Clark is set to become the highest paid female basketball player, and for a good reason. A first team All-American, the recipient of the John Wooden Award, an NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer among both men and women — I could go on…
She’s making women’s basketball not only cool, but she’s had an effect similar to the one Taylor Swift had on football. The Caitlin Clark Effect knows no boundaries: the 2023 NCAA Championship game versus Coach Kim Mulkey’s LSU Villainesses was the most-viewed women’s college game in history. Each team that Iowa played saw their highest attendance ever, and Iowa’s home games were seeing equally sold-out successes.
Celebrities are suddenly flying to Iowa just to see Clark play. During April 1’s LSU-Iowa rematch, Jason Sudeikus cheered on Clark. Her fan base includes Travis Scott, Tom Brady, Billie Jean King, and Ashton Kutcher. A game in Iowa City now resembles the courtside section of Madison Square Garden.
Clark is a joy to watch. A true anomaly of a human whose basketball prowess borderlines on the robotic, it’s that impressive. She makes an NCAA game look like the prime Golden State Warriors…and she’s not alone in women’s college basketball superstardom.
Who Are The Women’s NCAA Basketball Stars?
Angel Reese taunting Caitlin Clark in the 2023 NCAA Championship
Tony Gutierrez/AP
It feels like there’s a superstar on every team in the women’s 2024 March Madness tournament. This made the tournament a thrill to watch, because every game has been a head-to-head matchup of some of the hottest young talent heading into the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark’s next matchup are the UConn Huskies, who have their own star in guardPaige Bueckers. Bueckers has garnered a host of awards and accolades throughout her college career: the 2021 Wooden Award recipient, Big East player of the year and freshman of the year, etc.
Bueckers and the Huskies just knocked off USC’s Trojans led by true freshman guard JuJu Watkins. Watkins is yet another thrilling name in the realm of women’s hoops and the face in Nike and AT&T Wireless commercials alongside NBA stars like Joel Embiid.
And then there’s the aforementioned “villainesses” at Louisiana State University. Led by power dresser and controversial coach, Kim Mulkey, the LSU women’s basketball team is constantly the talk of the town.
After LSU lambasted Iowa last year in the tournament, all eyes were on the trash-talking, bold LSU Tigers. Guard Angel Reesebacked up her trash talk with a killer performance on the court, and off the court, she embraces the villain role with open arms.
She’s not wrong. The LSU team undoubtedly gets a majority of the heat from the public. It’s not lost on me that it’s often a bunch of grown men trolling the women’s physical appearance on social media and harping on their “unladylike” behavior rather than their commanding presence on the court.
One more point Angel Reese wasn’t wrong about: they’re like The Beatles. There’s fervent support and a cult-like following surrounding women’s college basketball. And as these powerhouses progress in their careers, there’s been a WNBA resurgence. Men are opting to watch 22-year-old Caitlin Clark over 39-year-old LeBron James.
Welcome To The Women’s Basketball Takeover
Don’t believe me? The proof is in the numbers. Games featuring Iowa and Caitlin Clark during her final season are reported as the most-viewed women’s college basketball games of all time across platforms like ABC, Fox, and NBC. Clark’s final regular season game – when she broke the scoring record – was the second most-watched game (men or women) of the season.
Tickets for the Iowa-UConn matchup are currently going for over $1000, and the Iowa-LSU matchup on April 1 recorded 12.6 million viewers. That smashes last year’s previous record of 9.9 million…but, before that the record was in 2002, at 5.6 million.
To put that in perspective, they’re not that far behind men’s basketball – the NC State-Duke game peaked at 15.1 million viewers. The game was more viewed than the 2023 World Series and NBA Championship. And although you can’t yet bet on women’s basketball, I would say we aren’t far behind.
It’s a new era for women’s basketball. A new investment. And we can’t wait to see what happens next.
We know Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu are great three-point shooters. But this weekend, we got to find out who is the best.Curry narrowly defeated Ionescu Saturday when the two sharpshooters faced off during All-Star Weekend in the first NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest to settle a long-running debate.The Golden State Warriors star scored 29 points to the New York Liberty star, who scored 26.Ionescu said she was excited to “change the narrative” between NBA and WNBA players.Video above: Steph Curry inspires students “That was amazing,” Ionescu said. “Just to be able to have this be the first of this kind of event and come out here and put on a show but understanding what this means. Excited to change the narrative and be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever do it.”Curry, while wearing a three-point champion belt, was complimentary of the event and Ionescu.”This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of us two taking the chance in front of this stage, running around with all the hype, and to deliver like that, she set the bar, it was unbelievable to watch,” Curry said. “So, this might be something – I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoes, but it might be something that we need to do more often.”A dream crossover match-upCurry is a two-time NBA three-point contest champion and holds the league’s record for most career three-pointers made (3,642).However, in 2023, Ionescu set the WNBA record for most three-pointers in a single-season (128). She also set a WNBA and NBA all-time record score in the three-point contest last season, recording 37 points out of a possible 40.According to the official release, Curry shot NBA balls from the NBA three-point line, while Ionescu used the WNBA equivalents – the line is a little closer and the ball is slightly smaller.But, confident of her abilities before the match, Ionescu said she wanted to level the playing field. “I’ll shoot from the NBA line… LETS GET IT,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.As part of the contest, both Curry and Ionescu’s respective charities will receive a donation from the NBA and WNBA. The pair will also have a chance to raise money for the NBA Foundation, which aims to further economic empowerment in the Black community, with each regular shot worth $1,000, every money ball $2,000 and a special 29-foot-9-inch three-pointer called the “STARRY Range Ball” worth $3,000.”I think this is like the coolest thing ever,” Curry told TNT in late January.”I love the confidence, I love the competition. It’s a new format on that stage.”A weekend of actionThe traditional three-point contest saw Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Trae Young vie for the crown.In the end, Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard, successfully defended his three-point contest title, becoming the first player to win back-to-back crowns since Jason Kapono did so in 2007 and 2008.All-Star Weekend will culminate in the All-Star Game on Sunday from the Indiana Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which sees the best-of-the-best compete against one another.The game has reverted back to the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format for this year, with many of the league’s biggest stars lining up in Indianapolis.Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James captain the East and West, respectively, while Joel Embiid is the biggest name to miss out, having undergone surgery for a knee injury earlier this month.Saturday’s action started with the NBA’s showcase of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) as Virginia Union played Winston-Salem State.Players’ all-around skillsets were on display on Saturday evening with the Skills Challenge, before the three-point contest showcased some of the best talent from deep. The Slam Dunk competition rounded out the evening.And on Sunday, the G League – the NBA’s minor league affiliate – will host its own series of events beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET at the G League Park at the Indian Convention Center before the crowning jewel of the weekend, the All-Star Game, takes place at 8 p.m. ET.
CNN —
We know Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu are great three-point shooters. But this weekend, we got to find out who is the best.
Curry narrowly defeated Ionescu Saturday when the two sharpshooters faced off during All-Star Weekend in the first NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest to settle a long-running debate.
The Golden State Warriors star scored 29 points to the New York Liberty star, who scored 26.
Ionescu said she was excited to “change the narrative” between NBA and WNBA players.
Video above: Steph Curry inspires students
“That was amazing,” Ionescu said. “Just to be able to have this be the first of this kind of event and come out here and put on a show but understanding what this means. Excited to change the narrative and be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever do it.”
Curry, while wearing a three-point champion belt, was complimentary of the event and Ionescu.
“This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of us two taking the chance in front of this stage, running around with all the hype, and to deliver like that, she set the bar, it was unbelievable to watch,” Curry said. “So, this might be something – I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoes, but it might be something that we need to do more often.”
A dream crossover match-up
Curry is a two-time NBA three-point contest champion and holds the league’s record for most career three-pointers made (3,642).
However, in 2023, Ionescu set the WNBA record for most three-pointers in a single-season (128). She also set a WNBA and NBA all-time record score in the three-point contest last season, recording 37 points out of a possible 40.
According to the official release, Curry shotNBA balls from the NBA three-point line, while Ionescu usedthe WNBA equivalents – the line is a little closer and the ball is slightly smaller.
But, confident of her abilities before the match, Ionescu said she wanted to level the playing field. “I’ll shoot from the NBA line… LETS GET IT,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
As part of the contest, both Curry and Ionescu’s respective charities will receive a donation from the NBA and WNBA. The pair will also have a chance to raise money for the NBA Foundation, which aims to further economic empowerment in the Black community, with each regular shot worth $1,000, every money ball $2,000 and a special 29-foot-9-inch three-pointer called the “STARRY Range Ball” worth $3,000.
“I think this is like the coolest thing ever,” Curry told TNT in late January.
“I love the confidence, I love the competition. It’s a new format on that stage.”
A weekend of action
The traditional three-point contest saw Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Trae Young vie for the crown.
In the end, Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard, successfully defended his three-point contest title, becoming the first player to win back-to-back crowns since Jason Kapono did so in 2007 and 2008.
All-Star Weekend will culminate in the All-Star Game on Sunday from the Indiana Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which sees the best-of-the-best compete against one another.
The game has reverted back to the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format for this year, with many of the league’s biggest stars lining up in Indianapolis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James captain the East and West, respectively, while Joel Embiid is the biggest name to miss out, having undergone surgery for a knee injury earlier this month.
Saturday’s action started with the NBA’s showcase of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) as Virginia Union played Winston-Salem State.
Players’ all-around skillsets were on display on Saturday evening with the Skills Challenge, before the three-point contest showcased some of the best talent from deep. The Slam Dunk competition rounded out the evening.
And on Sunday, the G League – the NBA’s minor league affiliate – will host its own series of events beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET at the G League Park at the Indian Convention Center before the crowning jewel of the weekend, the All-Star Game, takes place at 8 p.m. ET.
One night after hanging 136 points on the short-handed 76ers in Philadelphia, the Nets’ offense came spiraling back down to earth in Monday’s 109-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors, a game where Ben Simmons sat out for precautionary reasons.
Buckets were hard to come by for both teams Monday night — especially from distance. The Nets held Golden State to 38.3% shooting in the first half and went into the locker room with a 49-43 advantage. But the Warriors, led by Jonathan Kuminga and Stephen Curry, quickly became the aggressors in the second half, outscoring Brooklyn 32-21 in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the final frame.
The Nets’ largest lead in the first half was nine points. Golden State made just two 3-pointers in the first half, both from Curry, and turned the ball over 10 times.
Royce O’Neale did his best to keep the Nets in it down the stretch. He knocked down three 3-pointers in just over a minute to cut the Warriors’ lead to four with 7:37 left in regulation. But Curry responded with five straight points and suddenly Golden State was getting to the rim just about whenever it wanted. A Brandin Podziemski layup put the Warriors up 11 with 5:41 to play.
The Nets’ frustration boiled over with 4:59 left, as Nic Claxton slammed Podziemski onto the hardwood while trying to prevent him from grabbing another offensive rebound. The play was reviewed. Referees found Claxton’s actions aggressive and unnecessary. He was ejected soon after, which spoiled a night where he tied a career-high with six blocks. Claxton was also Brooklyn’s most efficient scorer on Monday, converting on 7-of-9 attempts.
The Warriors went 13-for-22 in the fourth quarter (59.1%) and outscored Brooklyn 34-28. Curry, who finished with a game-high 29 points, poured in 12 in the final frame. Golden State outrebounded them 60-38, including 10 on the offensive glass. The absences of Simmons, Day’Ron Sharpe and Dorian Finney-Smith were felt.
Kumina added 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting for the Warriors. Cam Thomas led the Nets with 18 points but did it on a 4-of-21 clip (10-of-11 from the free throw line. Thomas, O’Neale, Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie shot a combined 17-for-60 from the field. It was ugly.
The Nets (20-29) had won three of their last four games entering Monday night.
Lonnie Walker IV left the game with 1:20 left in the first quarter and did not return. Left hamstring tightness was the initial diagnosis. He had missed 17 straight games earlier in the season because of a left hamstring strain.
Whatever basketball’s blue-collar bona fides, whatever its associations with the barbershop and the neighborhood blacktop, its culture has proved hostile to at least one category of everyman: the plumber. A few years ago, fans on YouTube and TikTok began uploading grainy footage of star players from previous decades and zooming in on the defenders, usually white guys with short shorts, long mustaches, and very little muscle definition. After these players were centered and freeze-framed, a voice-over would deride them as “plumbers.” As in: “Michael Jordan played against plumbers.”
Basketball fans love to argue about the evolution of the game, and whether yesterday’s superstars had it easier. Putting aside the meme-makers’ contempt for tradesmen, they’re right: Today’s professionals do look more athletic and skilled than their predecessors. But then again, today’s fans are steeped in the current visual style of the game, which has changed over the past few decades. We may underestimate former players’ explosiveness, fluidity, and precision.
To find out whether NBA gameplay has indeed become more challenging, I embarked on an investigation—and I didn’t like what I found. Like many basketball fans in their early 40s, I’m hopelessly nostalgic for the NBA of the ’90s, for Hakeem Olajuwon’s slippery footwork, and Penny Hardaway’s pretty interior passing. But after digging through data and consulting with league insiders, I can’t help but conclude that today’s game really is more rigorous.
A large body of evidence suggests that NBA players now move more explosively than those of previous eras— despite the fact that they aren’t themselves larger-bodied. The league’s average height peaked at 6 foot 7 in 1987, and since then, only the (relatively) diminutive point guards have inched up as a group. Taller players—centers and forwards—have actually shrunk a bit. NBA players packed on weight all the way through 2011, but they’ve since thinned. That evolution can even be seen across individual careers: LeBron James fussily shapes his physique during every offseason, and in recent years he has transitioned to a slimmer frame.
To measure how those (slightly) smaller bodies move, some NBA teams turn to a company called P3. More than two-thirds of the players who were on pro rosters when the season tipped off earlier this week have worked out at a P3 facility, according to the company. Players are outfitted head-to-toe with more than 20 sensors. They’re asked to perform intense vertical and lateral movements atop special, sensor-laden platforms. Their every twitch is recorded by motion-capture cameras. Marcus Elliott, the founder and director of P3, told me that his system measures raw-force production, power, overall movement, and speed, and that with respect to all of them, “today’s average NBA athlete is 4 to 7 percent better than the average NBA athlete from more than 10 years ago.”
When Elliott first started evaluating players about 15 years ago, many were operating at only 75 to 80 percent of their potential athleticism. They weren’t as ballistic as today’s players, but they could still get by on skills. Most of today’s players, by contrast, are more than 90 percent optimized by their first visit to P3. Elliott compared them to Formula 1 cars: “They accelerate at a faster rate to higher velocities and they change directions quicker.” I asked him about previous generations of players. What cars did they remind him of? “They weren’t Hondas,” he said, “but maybe something in between.” You can decide which is worse: Hondas or plumbers.
Basketball has never been a more global sport; a record 125 international players are on teams’ rosters this season. But before NBA general managers raided the worldwide talent pool for exceptionally skilled players, some taller players basically got by on their height. There were outliers: Bill Walton regularly threw no-look passes from the center position; Magic Johnson played point guard at 6 foot 9; Jack Sikma (6 foot 11) and Sam Perkins (6 foot 9) both stroked it from beyond the arc. But their fellow bigs tended to be clumsy ball handlers who took few shots outside the key. Now shooting and passing abilities are the purview of virtually every player. Centers are logging nearly 30 percent more assists than they did a decade ago. One of them, the 6-foot-11-inch Nikola Jokić, may have the best court vision in the NBA. Centers are also taking more than four times as many three-point shots as they were 10 years ago. Power forwards have become long-range bombers, too; a whopping 40 percent of their shot attempts are now three-pointers.
NBA gameplay has been transformed by these sharpshooting big men. “It used to be that there was always a non-shooting specialist on the court,” Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, told me. Usually, this person would be a pure rebounder or rim protector. Teams could rest their stars by having them defend such players, or design defensive schemes to make sure that the ball ended up in a non-shooter’s hands. Now every team has five shooters on the floor, Cuban explained. “Guys have to work harder on defense. They have to scramble more.”
After Steph Curry and his imitators started shooting from the logo zones way beyond the three-point line about 10 years ago, the space defenders had to scramble across grew much larger. More than half of these ultra-deep-shot attempts miss, and many clang violently off the rim, leading to long rebounds and quicker transitions. Thanks to this shift, and the NBA’s earlier decision to shorten the time by which a team must advance to half-court after gaining possession, the league’s pace has increased dramatically.
All that speed has drawbacks. In describing today’s players as Formula 1 cars, Elliott wasn’t only emphasizing their acceleration. “The thing about those cars is that they’re dangerous to drive,” he said. And in recent years, wreckage has been piling up on NBA sidelines. Players have missed more games due to injuries than in previous eras. This uptick in injuries—primarily ankle sprains, along with hamstring and calf strains—is somewhat mysterious, because NBA teams have never been more obsessed with the physical well-being of players. (Not that this concern springs from pure altruism. It’s just that most NBA contracts are guaranteed.)
NBA franchises previously entrusted the physical care of their players to a staff of two to three people. Most now have a training staff of at least eight—and many players also have their own personal trainers and nutritionists. Asheesh Bedi, the chief medical officer of the National Basketball Players Association, told me that in the olden times, “treatments in the training room were often limited to ice and ‘stim,’” short for muscle stimulation. Now teams have gleaming sci-fi facilities, complete with whole-body cryotherapy chambers, special pools for underwater treatments, antigravity treadmills, and ultrasound machines for advanced imaging. Teams also fly private so that they can time their takeoffs to players’ sleep cycles. When players get soft-tissue injuries, a team’s medical staff can deploy platelet-rich plasma to speed healing. On top of these efforts, the league has also shortened its preseason, and minimized back-to-back games and cross-country flights.
All of this pampering might seem to imply that today’s players have it easy. And yet, injuries are still up, and everyone in the league is trying to understand why. One theory is that today’s players are more injury prone when they reach the NBA, because they’ve been playing in year-round travel leagues since adolescence, if not earlier. Research has shown that Little Leaguers and cricketers who pitch or bowl too many times during their formative years can become predisposed to specific injuries, but so far, no evidence suggests that something similar is happening to young basketball players.
Perhaps the increase in injuries is instead a function of the pro game’s new physical demands. In 2018, researchers measured the movements of professional basketball players in Barcelona in a game setting and found that, among the 1,000 or so actions that players perform during a game, some are especially hard on the body. Jumps were obviously intense—as even casual hoopers can tell you, rough landings lead to ankle sprains. So were accelerations, all-out sprints, and decelerations. According to Elliott, the latter are most likely to give players traumatic injuries and wear and tear, especially when a player has to decelerate on short notice.
“If Luka Dončić is coming at you really hard and then he steps back, you have to try to decelerate out of nowhere, and then accelerate in some other direction” to close out, Elliott said. “Those transitions are so hard for human bodies,” especially if an athlete already has a strain, or some asymmetry that causes him to favor one leg over the other. The spacing of today’s game, and the sheer ubiquity of good shooters, requires players to constantly accelerate and decelerate on defense, and doing so across an 82-game season may be bringing them within range of the human body’s limits. Teams have started strategically benching their best players, forcing the NBA to crack down with new rules intended to keep stars on the floor. Some commentators have even suggested shortening the season, but because the NBA is set to negotiate a new TV deal soon, that’s unlikely.
There is a certain kind of fan who believes that the NBA reached its apex in the ’90s, if not in competition, certainly in physicality. They rightly point out that back then, the rules allowed for a much rougher style of play. To reach the hoop, Jordan had to leap into a violent gantlet of heavy-bodied bigs—Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, and Bill Laimbeer, to name a few—who delivered hard fouls with relish.
But that’s only one kind of physicality. Today’s playing environment puts a different set of demands on a player’s body. They may not have to dodge as many elbows and clotheslines as they did in the paint of yore, but that doesn’t mean their game isn’t more dangerous. That’s not to say that Jordan couldn’t thrive in today’s NBA. It just would have been more difficult. It would have required more from him. He might not have found it so easy to win all those rings.
Sports fans who view their favorite players as role models might think twice before taking their financial advice, too.
The bankruptcy of FTX and the arrest of its founder and former CEO are raising new questions about the role celebrity athletes such as Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Naomi Osaka and others played in lending legitimacy to the largely unregulated landscape of crypto, while also reframing the conversation about just how costly blind loyalty to favorite players or teams can be for the average fan.
Cryptocurrencies are digital money that use blockchain as the database for recording transactions. It isn’t backed by any government or institution and it remains a confusing concept — one that at first was largely the niche of tech-savvy coding specialists, people who distrusted governments and centralized banking systems and speculators with money to risk.
But now that risk is increasingly being taken on by investors who can’t afford to lose, and the disparity in wealth between celebrities and their fans creates an ethical dilemma: Should sports stars, or teams, or leagues, be touting products that could lead their fans to financial harm? Or should fans bear the responsibility for their own risky behavior regardless of who is encouraging it?
“In retrospect, it was an unwise business association that put Curry and Brady together with bad company,” Mark Pritchard, a professor at Central Washington who has studied the intersection of ethics and sports, said in an email to The Associated Press. “Not sure how much due diligence was paid to the decision, but it does call to mind a Warren Buffet quote: ‘Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.’”
Crypto and sports
The marriage between crypto and sports formed a few years ago and has only strengthened since, despite all the troubles plaguing the industry. A study by the IEG sponsorship group, for instance, found FTX and other crypto companies had spent $130 million for sponsorship in the NBA alone over the 2021-22 season; the season before, the sum was less than $2 million.
FTX itself had numerous ties to sports before its eventual collapse: The company paid an undisclosed amount to place patches on the uniforms of MLB umpires, $135 million for the naming rights on the arena where the Miami Heat play, and another $10 million to Curry’s basketball team, the Golden State Warriors, for ad placement in its arena and throughout the Warriors organization.
While those deals, as well as some others, cratered when FTX declared bankruptcy, plenty more live on. They include the naming rights for the home of the Lakers, which was once known as the Staples Center, but is now known as Crypto.com Arena, at the reported cost of $700 million over 20 years. There are crypto deals in cricket, soccer and Formula 1.
Separately, dozens of athletes have endorsed crypto, and in doing so, have led some of their fans to follow suit — and others to file suit, against the likes of Curry, Brady and other high-profile personalities for using their celebrity status to promote FTX’s failed business model.
Ben Salus, a Philly sports fan who has lost money in crypto, said he was uncomfortably surprised at the sudden increase of crypto-related signage around his favorite teams.
“It’s a very odd transition, especially because I don’t know if the world was ready for the prominence of crypto,” Salus said. “You’re getting these big personalities backing a thing that they, or their teams, know something about, but not very much.”
The debate has become even more complex over the past five years, with the intersection between crypto, digitized artwork offered in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), legalized sports wagering and e-gaming, along with the ever-expanding virtual-reality Metaverse — all growing more popular among large factions of sports stars and fans alike.
“It’s a lot more connected than people think,” said Ryan Nicklin, who studies the role of crypto in sports as part of his public-relations business. “And there’s a lot more crossover from the crypto world to the gambling world and into gaming, because when you spend on one of these Metaverse games, you’re essentially gambling since you don’t know whether the value of that asset you’ve purchased is going to go up or down.”
Crypto’s move into the public mainstream wasn’t driven by sports, but as it became a better-known commodity, sports leagues and teams and their athletes — never shy about trying to make a buck off the latest trends — got into the act.
Emotional attachment
“A lot of endorsements have to do with an emotional attachment,” said Brandon Brown, who teaches sports and business at New York University’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport. “So, it would make sense for these (crypto) companies to work with a sports team or a sports celebrity because there’s an emotional attachment that goes along with that partnership.”
One key moment came in 2020 when a few players, including Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl lineman Russell Okung, announced they would take all or some of their multimillion-dollar salaries in crypto.
“So many purchase Bitcoin to become cash rich,” Okung tweeted not long after the announcement. “I bought it to be free from cash.” Not long after, Bitcoin.com proudly stated that the increases in the price of Bitcoin had essentially doubled the $6.5 million portion of Okung’s salary that was paid in crypto.
Bigger names followed. Actors Matt Damon and Larry David were among the Hollywood types. The mayors of New York and Miami made a splash when they, too, said they would take their pay in crypto.
Aaron Rodgers, Shaquille O’Neal, Beckham Jr. and Trevor Lawrence were among a large group of high-profile athletes who also got into the act. One popular commercial involved Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brady and his then-wife, Gisele Bündchen, calling friends to talk crypto and playfully asking them: “Are you in?”
The relationship between crypto and sports is also regenerating a debate about how athletes should use the platform they wouldn’t otherwise have but for sports. Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling, to say nothing of the racial tensions laid bare in the U.S. by George Floyd’s killing in 2020, upended the old “shut up and play” cliché, and presented many athletes with an opening to use sports to send a message.
Curry is among those who has been unafraid to delve into some of society’s more difficult topics, speaking out after Floyd’s killing and contributing to the Players’ Tribune website where athletes blog about their views unfiltered by traditional media.
Now, Curry is in the headlines again as one of many paid endorsers of FTX. But aside of being named in the class action lawsuit and being ridiculed on some social media sites that are heavily engaged in crypto discussions, there hasn’t been any major blowback against Curry for his investments and endorsements — and there may never be.
“When the currency blows up, will people look poorly on the currency, or will people look poorly on Brady or Steph Curry?” Brown said. “I’d venture to say that people are likely to have such a strong connection with their sports figures that they’ll latch onto said sports figure and blame the other party, which in this case is FTX, or the currency.”
—AP Business Writer Ken Sweet contributed to this report.
