On the east side of Oakland, the sun was barely up when the sound of a basketball echoed through the cracked concrete backyard. Tyler Johnson, twelve years old, was already in motion—dribbling, pivoting, launching shots at a battered hoop nailed to a splintered board. His sneakers were worn, the ball scuffed, but his spirit was undimmed.
“Curry for three… and he scores!” Tyler announced to an imaginary crowd, mimicking the ESPN commentators he adored. He wore his most prized possession: a Golden State Warriors jersey, number 30, Steph Curry. It was faded and patched, the fabric stretched over his growing frame, but he wore it like armor.
Lisa Johnson watched from the kitchen doorway, a tired but proud smile on her face. At thirty-eight, she bore the marks of someone who’d weathered storms—two jobs, a lost husband, and the daily hustle to keep her son’s dreams alive. “Tyler, breakfast! You’ll be late for school,” she called.
“Just one more shot, Mom!” Tyler pleaded, his eyes shining.
Lisa nodded, letting him have his moment. She knew how much that jersey meant. It had been a birthday gift from his father, given just months before he passed away. Since then, Tyler wore it almost every day, and Lisa had become an expert at sewing its tears and reinforcing its seams.
At breakfast, Tyler devoured his cereal, eyes glued to Curry highlights on Lisa’s old phone. “Coach Williams says I shoot like Curry,” he said, between bites.
Lisa smiled as she packed his lunch. “Keep practicing, but remember, Curry worked hard at school too.”
“I know, Mom. I’m turning in my science project today.” He hesitated, then asked quietly, “Do you think we’ll ever go to a Warriors game?”
Lisa’s heart clenched. NBA tickets were out of reach. “One day, sweetie. We’ll save up.”
Tyler nodded, understanding without complaint. But Lisa saw the longing in his eyes when classmates showed off new sneakers or the latest jerseys.
At school, Tyler was a standout in PE, especially at basketball. Coach Williams, a kind man in his forties, often stayed late to help him. “That shot’s getting better and better,” he said one afternoon. “But your jersey’s falling apart.”
Tyler fingered the patches. “My dad gave it to me. Someday I’ll get one signed by Curry himself.”
Coach Williams smiled. “Keep dreaming, kid. And keep working.”
That night, as Lisa sewed another patch, she spotted an ad in the paper: the Warriors were hosting a free basketball clinic at the Oakland Community Center. Some players would attend, though it didn’t say who. An idea sparked. “Tyler, look at this!”
The day of the clinic, the center buzzed with excitement. Hundreds of kids lined up, many from families like Tyler’s. He clutched his ball and wore his patched jersey, freshly washed and mended by Lisa the night before.
“Do you think Curry will really be here?” he asked for the tenth time.
“We’ll see,” Lisa replied, hiding her own hopes.
The clinic began with drills led by assistant coaches and former Warriors players. Tyler was focused, absorbing every tip, every correction. “That kid’s got something special,” one coach whispered to another.
Then, around noon, a ripple of excitement swept the gym. The side door opened, and Steph Curry walked in, smiling and waving. Kids surged forward, and Tyler’s heart hammered in his chest. Curry was assigned to a different group, but Tyler couldn’t stop glancing over.
During a water break, Tyler edged closer, mesmerized as Curry demonstrated his shot. Suddenly, he tripped, tumbling right at Curry’s feet.
“Hey, you okay?” Curry asked, helping him up.
Tyler’s face burned. “Yes, sir. Sorry, Mr. Curry.”
Curry’s eyes caught on Tyler’s jersey. “Is that my jersey you’re wearing?”
Tyler looked down, embarrassed. “It’s kind of old. My dad gave it to me.”
Curry knelt, his expression softening. “That jersey has history. What’s your name?”
“Tyler. Tyler Johnson.”
“Tyler, you got a good shot? Show me.”
A crowd gathered. Curry passed Tyler the ball. Nerves threatened to freeze him, but as his fingers gripped the ball, muscle memory took over. He sank a mid-range jumper. Curry grinned. “Nice! Again, but farther out.”
Tyler stepped back and nailed another. “This kid’s got your touch, Steph,” an assistant coach remarked.
For the next fifteen minutes, Curry worked one-on-one with Tyler, tweaking his form, offering encouragement. Lisa watched from the bleachers, tears in her eyes.
“You’ve got talent, Tyler,” Curry finally said. “But what impresses me most is your dedication. That jersey? It tells me you don’t give up.”
Tyler smiled shyly. “My mom fixes it for me. It’s my favorite thing.”
Curry beckoned Lisa over. “Mrs. Johnson, your son’s incredible. I want to offer him a spot at my summer camp. Full scholarship. Equipment and everything.”
Lisa’s jaw dropped. “We… we can’t afford—”
“It’s all covered,” Curry said. “But one condition: keep that jersey forever. I’ll give you new ones, but none will mean as much as that one.”
Tyler’s eyes filled with tears. Curry signed the jersey, writing:
“To Tyler, the next great shooter. Believe and work. —Stephen Curry #30”
Three weeks later, a representative from Curry’s foundation arrived at their door with boxes of gear: jerseys, shoes, shorts, even an iPad loaded with training videos. At the bottom was a handwritten letter:
“Tyler,
Before the championships, before the fame, I was just a boy who loved basketball and worked when no one was watching. That’s what I see in you. Wear this new gear with pride, but never forget that patched jersey. It tells your story better than any new one ever could. Keep believing.
—Stephen Curry”
Camp was transformative. Tyler trained with elite coaches, made new friends, and grew in confidence. On the last day, Curry made a surprise visit, asking to see the legendary jersey. Cameras rolled as Curry explained, “Basketball’s about perseverance. Every patch is a lesson—never give up, value what you have.”
The foundation’s video, “Beyond The Jersey: Steph Curry and the Young Shooter,” went viral. Millions watched as Tyler’s story touched hearts across the nation. Scholarship offers flooded in. A local company offered Lisa a better job. Even Coach Williams was invited to join Curry’s foundation.
Six months later, Tyler and Lisa sat courtside at Chase Center as Curry’s special guests. Tyler, now with a new jersey but carrying the original framed, grinned as Curry approached.
“How’s the shot?” Curry asked.
“Better every day,” Tyler replied.
“Remember,” Curry said, “the greatest victory isn’t on the court—it’s who you become on the journey.”
As the arena lights dimmed for tipoff, Tyler held the framed jersey close. For the world, it was the story of a superstar’s generosity. For Tyler, each patch was a medal—a testament to resilience, love, and the magic that happens when dreams meet kindness.
And his story was just beginning.
Stephen Curry Gifted A Game-Worn Jersey To Ball Boy Who Was Hit In The Face By His Missed Tunnel Shot
Stephen Curry and his pre-game shootaround can be as entertaining as the games themselves, as Curry tried to make a shot from the tunnel before a game against the Bucks.
Curry missed his attempt, with the under the basket. As an apology, Steph gave the ball boy his game-worn jersey after as a token of apology.
The ball boy walked away from an unfortunate experience with a game-worn Curry jersey, so he probably is happy with the trade-off. This also goes to show the quality of Curry’s character, as he was under no pressure to do this for the kid. He did it and took pride in it, as evidenced by his Instagram comment.
Stephen Curry Finding His Rhythm
During Steph’s latest injury layoff, the Warriors picked up 5 consecutive wins before Curry’s return to the team. What everyone thought would be the launching bad for the Warriors’ postseason push ended up deflating as the team lost 3 consecutive games the second Curry returned to the team.
A tremendously clutch performance by Steph in the Warriors’ win over the Bucks shows why Golden State still can be dangerous. They need to make sure they can fix their woes on the road and find a defensive solution soon, as this might be the year that the West can get past them without it being a pervasive challenge.
Stephen Curry is averaging 33.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists since coming back but the team has gone just 1-3. Their next four fixtures are against tough opponents in the Suns, Clippers, Hawks, and Grizzlies. They’ll all be must-win encounters as Golden State looks to secure its spot as the 6th seed to bypass the play-in tournament.
