A Day With Stephen Curry In The Offseason – Gentleman’s Cut x KTVU Channel 2

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A Day With Stephen Curry: More Than Basketball

It was more than just a moment with Stephen Curry — it was a full day during the offseason, one filled with multiple stops: a grocery store, a hotel, a local bar, and a fundraising dinner. It was a workday, yes, but also a rare look into the “why” behind one of the most recognizable figures in sports.

“I’m doing a lot of great things and blessed to be able to do them,” Curry said. “But they all kind of connect in a way. Everything that we do has a mission and purpose behind it.”

From his foundation to his growing bourbon brand, every stop Curry makes feels intentional. “The idea of being able to do a fundraiser, Eat. Learn. Play., and continue the work that me and Ayesha have started — like, it all makes sense,” he added. “And we’re super excited that the Bay shows up everywhere we go.”

And when it comes to Curry, the Bay Area certainly does show up.

That afternoon, he visited a Whole Foods in Napa — a stop that was supposed to be a surprise. But by 6:15 a.m., fans were already waiting. One fan laughed, “Didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, but I heard through the grapevine.”

The visit wasn’t just for groceries — it was about getting exposure for his bourbon brand, Gentleman’s Cut. He’s not just the face of the brand — he’s a true fan of it, evident from the grin on his face when he peeked behind the butcher counter to see cuts of meat marinated in his own bourbon.

“It was aged what, 26 days in Gentleman’s Cut?” Curry marveled. “That was new.”

But would he be the one cooking it?

“No way,” he joked. “My wife can throw down in the kitchen. I’m not going to mess it up — I’ll let her handle that.”

When asked if he’d try his hand at butchering, Curry laughed. “Might be against my contract.”

The buzz surrounding Curry was palpable — the flurry of fans, the thank-yous, and selfies at every turn. One fan told him sincerely, “You bring joy into our lives every time you play.”

Behind the superstar, though, is a man deeply connected to his family — a father of four with a soft spot for kids. When a young fan showed him a jersey, Curry beamed. “Oh my goodness. That’s the man.”

Balancing basketball, business, and fatherhood isn’t easy. “There’s a balance throughout the year,” he explained. “The idea that I’m still working, making sure the main thing is the main thing — basketball, prep — but also getting rest and spending time with my family. Being a human being at some point.”

Still, opportunities like these — appearances and brand work — remain exciting to him.

Later, Curry stopped at the Archer Hotel and then downtown Napa’s 1331 Cocktails, one of the city’s most successful bars, which also features Gentleman’s Cut. Even in a social setting, Curry was approachable, always smiling and never alone at the bar.

“Nice to see you,” he said, clinking glasses with fans and friends alike. “Cheers.”

“I had two of them so far,” he admitted, referring to the cocktails. “They’re both different and great all the same.”

Even when the next commitment called, Curry still paused for one last photo with a young fan. Those close to him know — that’s just who he is.

“He’s very personable,” said a friend. “He loves kids. He always stops for photos and signs jerseys.”

John Schwarz, Curry’s business partner, has known the family for over a decade. In 2013, he and Ayesha started a wine label — Domaine Curry. Now, he and Stephen are building a bourbon empire.

“When Steph and Ayesha would come over,” Schwarz said, “Ayesha would gravitate toward my wine cellar, and Steph would drink all the great bourbon I was producing. So I said, ‘Why don’t we just make one together?’”

That idea became reality. After years of work, they launched Gentleman’s Cut, now one of the fastest-growing bourbons in the U.S. and globally.

Each of Curry’s ventures — wine, bourbon, foundation — is rooted in relationships and built on years of trust and shared values. His Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, co-founded with Ayesha, serves the children of Oakland.

“We just celebrated our six-year anniversary,” Curry said. “We’ve invested over $90 million back into Oakland students and their schools — providing tens of millions of meals and free literacy tutoring for over 5,000 students.”

CEO Chris Helfrich, whom Curry first met in college, now helps lead the foundation. “No accidents in life,” Curry said, recalling a mission trip to Tanzania where they first crossed paths. Years later, Helfrich returned to help launch the foundation.

“You’ve got to be surrounded with good people,” Curry added. “You’ve got to be mission-aligned. And so far, it’s been amazing.”

The day ended at Cole’s Chop House, a fundraising dinner for Eat. Learn. Play., surrounded by friends, partners, and supporters — the same way the day began.

A day with Stephen Curry is more than basketball. It’s a glimpse into the world that has grown with him — a world of family, purpose, business, and community.

“It’s surreal,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of passions and interests, and the ability to have everything amplify each other in a way that makes it all worthwhile — it’s fun.”