Oakland, California. June. The sun was beginning its lazy descent behind the skyline, painting the cracked blacktop of the old rec center court in hues of gold and bronze. The air shimmered with the stubborn heat of the day, mingling with the scent of charred meat from a nearby barbecue and the distant strains of hip hop drifting from open car windows.
Stephen Curry stood at the edge of the court, a basketball tucked beneath his arm, sweat sticking to the back of his neck. He looked out across the familiar lines and faded arcs, every crack and chip in the pavement feeling like an old friend. He remembered the first time he’d worn those white high tops—shoes that made him feel like he could fly. For years, he’d believed his parents had given them to him, a small but pivotal gift that had ignited his love for the game.
But lately, as he replayed those early years in his mind, something didn’t add up. His dad had been on the road, chasing his own NBA dream. His mom had juggled two kids and a household held together with spit and prayers. The memory of those shoes—how new they were, how perfect they felt—nagged at him.
He let the ball fall, listening to its rhythmic thump as it bounced and settled near his feet. A group of kids played a pickup game at the far end of the court, their laughter sharp and bright. One of them, a wiry kid in an oversized t-shirt, shot a three-pointer that clanged off the rim.
“Keep shooting, man,” Stephen called, his voice carrying with the easy confidence of a pro who’d earned every scar.
The kid grinned, eyes wide with disbelief. “Yo, Steph!”
Stephen turned. Marcus Banks, his childhood friend, strode toward him with the same swagger he’d always had. Time had added gray to Marcus’s temples, but his grin was as wide as ever.
“Marcus,” Stephen said, clapping his friend’s shoulder.
“It’s been a minute,” Marcus replied. “I see you still remember where it all started.” He gestured to the court.
“Some things you never forget. Like those first shoes. White high tops. Felt like I could dunk from the free throw line.”
Marcus’s grin faltered just for a second. He glanced away, eyes tracing the faded lines. “Yeah, those shoes.”
Stephen caught the flicker in Marcus’s expression. “You remember something about them?”
Marcus hesitated, his foot scuffing the pavement. “I remember you wearing them everywhere. You couldn’t stop talking about how they made you feel unstoppable.”
Stephen’s curiosity burned. “I always thought my parents got them for me, but now I’m not so sure.”
Marcus let out a slow breath. “You should talk to Coach Donnie. He was around back then. If anyone knows, it’s him.”
The sun dipped lower, shadows lengthening across the court. The mystery of those shoes gnawed at Stephen now, a thread that begged to be unraveled.
The rec center loomed ahead, its faded blue paint chipped by years of sun and neglect. The sign above the door, Westlake Community Rec Center, hung askew. Stephen stood outside, memories flooding back: hours spent practicing layups under Coach Donnie’s watchful eye, scrimmages that always ended in laughter.
He pushed open the heavy door. The interior was cool, dimly lit by harsh fluorescent lights. A worn basketball rolled lazily into his path, and he scooped it up, the familiar texture grounding him. Across the court, Coach Donnie knelt by a folding chair, lacing up a young boy’s sneakers.
“Coach,” Stephen called softly.
Donnie’s head snapped up, eyes squinting, then softening with recognition. “Stephen Curry, look at you. NBA champ, finals MVP, still coming back to this old place.”
Stephen grinned, but the question burned too hot to wait. “Coach, I need to ask you something. It’s about those first basketball shoes I had. The white high tops.”
Donnie’s expression shifted, a shadow crossing his eyes. He sank onto the bleachers, knees creaking. “Those shoes, huh? I always knew you’d ask about them someday.”
“My parents… things were tight back then. Marcus hinted you might know more.”
Donnie let out a sigh that seemed to carry a thousand stories. “Your parents loved you, son. They did everything they could, but times were hard. Your dad’s contract was year-to-year. Your mom worked two jobs. And your sister’s dance classes cost more than you’d think.”
Stephen nodded, his throat tightening. He’d always known his parents made sacrifices. But had he underestimated how much?
“You remember Tyrese, Marcus’s older brother?” Donnie asked.
Stephen’s mind flashed to Tyrese: tall, quiet, always working late shifts at the gas station, a gentle giant who’d taught him how to spin the ball on his finger.
“Yeah, I remember him,” Stephen whispered.
“One night, Tyrese stopped by here after his shift. He’d seen you playing out there in beat-up sneakers with holes. He told me, ‘Coach, that kid’s going to make it someday, but he needs a real pair of shoes to get started.’ He handed me a crumpled envelope with cash—every last penny he’d saved from his tips that week—and told me to buy you the best pair I could find.”
Stephen felt his breath catch. The smell of the gym faded, replaced by a roaring in his ears. “Tyrese… he bought them?”
Donnie’s gaze was steady. “Tyrese didn’t want the thanks. He wanted you to focus on your game, to believe in yourself. He said if you knew, you’d feel like you owed him. He didn’t want that. He just wanted to give you a chance.”
Stephen blinked back tears. The old gym seemed to pulse with a quiet magic, a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can change the trajectory of a life.
As he left the gym, the evening air felt different, cooler, sharper. The mystery of those shoes was solved, but the impact of Tyrese’s sacrifice would stay with him forever.
He found Marcus waiting outside. “I can’t believe I never knew,” Stephen murmured. “Tyrese… he was just a kid himself, working those late shifts, always looking out for you. And me, too, I guess.”
Marcus let out a sigh. “Tyrese didn’t want thanks. He always said gratitude should show up in your game, not in words. He knew you had something special, Steph. We all did. But he put his money where his mouth was.”
Stephen’s throat tightened. “He saw it before anyone else. And he gave me that first push. All these years, I’ve been carrying his dream with me, and I didn’t even know.”
Marcus’s eyes glistened. “You honored it, man. Every time you stepped on the court, every time you made a three from the parking lot, he was with you. You never stopped playing like that kid with the beat-up sneakers who wanted to fly.”
Stephen dropped his head, hands clutching the basketball. His heart ached with gratitude and grief. He wished he could tell Tyrese what it had meant.
The following weekend, the rec center bustled with life. Stephen stood at center court, holding a brand new pair of white high-top sneakers in his hands, pristine, the same style he’d worn all those years ago. Kids with wide eyes gathered around.
He cleared his throat. “I grew up on this court. Every shot I took, every drill, every miss, it started here. And it started with a pair of shoes that made me feel like I could fly. I always thought my parents gave me those shoes. But I learned recently that they came from someone else. Tyrese, Marcus’s brother, bought those shoes for me. He gave me a chance before the world ever did.”
He turned to a young player in the front row, a boy with a shy smile and scuffed sneakers. “Tyrese gave me my first pair, and it changed my life. So, I’m paying it forward. I want you to believe that every time you lace up, you’re lacing up a chance. A chance to grow, to fight, to dream.”
The boy took the shoes with trembling hands, eyes wide with wonder. A ripple of applause rose from the crowd. Stephen looked around, emotion thick in his chest. Every face, every parent, every kid carried the weight of sacrifice and hope.
He thought of Tyrese, long gone but present in every dribble on this court, in every jump shot. He felt a quiet peace settle in his chest. He’d carried Tyrese’s gift through championships, buzzer beaters, and defeats—and now he’d passed it on.
The game was about more than points on a scoreboard. It was about community, faith, and giving someone else a chance to fly. As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in streaks of pink and gold, Stephen closed his eyes, breathing in the cool evening air, thick with the scent of sweat and possibility.
He felt Tyrese there beside him—not in the flesh, but in every echo of the bouncing ball, in every determined face staring at the hoop. The shoes had been a gift, but so much more than that. They were a promise, a belief that even the smallest acts of kindness could carry someone all the way to greatness.
Stephen turned back to the court, eyes shining. He’d honored Tyrese’s gift, and he knew deep down that every time he stepped on the hardwood, he’d carry that promise with him, just like the kids around him would carry theirs. The game wasn’t over. It was just beginning. And every pair of shoes held the weight of a dream waiting to be lived.
Stephen Curry Makes Big Splash in Pink Curry 11 GD Sneakers at Warriors-Knicks Game
Stephen Curry‘s talent always makes him stand out on the court, but so does his shoe game. The basketball pro wore a pair of bright, hot pink Under Armour Curry 11 GD sneakers at the Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks game Monday night in San Francisco.
Stephen Curry wearing Under Armour Curry 11 GD sneakers on the court.Getty Images
About the shoes
The Under Armour Curry 11 GD is one of Curry’s latest drops with the sports apparel brand. Released in October 2023, the shoes feature a “Rebel Pink/Purple Ace/ Provence Purple” colorway and the basketball player’s signature Under Armour logo.
Stephen Curry wearing Under Armour Curry 11 GD sneakers on the court.Getty Images
Additionally, the sneakers have standard tie laces, which help provide a personalized fit, an external 3D-molded TPU heel counter, an internal midfoot shank, and a durable UA flow outsole, which supports superior traction and durability on the court.
Under Armour Curry 11 GD sneakers on the court.Under Armour
The Under Armour Curry 11 GD is priced at $160 and can be purchased at various shoe retailers, such as Foot Locker, Champ Sports and more.
Stephen Curry and Under Armour’s partnership
Curry began collaborating with Under Armour back in 2013. Since then, the Warriors point guard and the brand, which was founded in 1996, have released several collaborations, including Curry Flow 10, which launched in fall 2022. The collection has made Curry the first Under Armour athlete ambassador and the ninth athlete in history to drop 10 shoes within his lineup.
Curry’s Under Armour sneakers are designed for adults and kids. His shoes usually range anywhere from $59 to $160 and come in a variety of signature shoes and colorways. In addition to sneakers, the Under Armour and Stephen Curry partnership is comprised of clothes and accessories.
Stephen Curry Under Armour Curry 4
A Look at Stephen Curry’s Under Armour Signature Shoe History
