Steph Curry’s sneaker free agency has seen him wear several different shoes across multiple brands this NBA season. Those shoes will now benefit charity.
More than 70 pairs of shoes Curry wore this season will be auctioned through Sotheby’s from April 13 to April 28. Proceeds will benefit the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, an organization founded by Curry and his wife, Ayesha, that supports healthy meals, reading and an active lifestyle for children in Oakland, Calif.
Curry became a sneaker free agent after parting ways with Under Armour in November. It allowed the four-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star to take his Curry Brand with him while also exploring options for a new deal. His final signature shoe by Under Armour, the Curry 13, was released in February.
Leaving Under Armour created a unique opportunity for one of the NBA’s biggest stars to launch a diverse shoe collection that’s now available for auction, with proceeds benefiting community service.
“That’s always been the bigger purpose for me,” Curry said in a statement. “There’s no better feeling than being able to celebrate the game and enjoy everything around it, while also opening doors and giving back. I hope these special pairs that were part of a key time in my sneaker journey can carry that same energy forward.”
Curry’s shoe choices throughout the season were intentional. A recent example was Curry wearing a retro pair of the black Converse Weapon in Boston, a nod to the shoe made famous by Boston Celtics great Larry Bird.
Whether suited up for the Warriors or in street clothes while nursing an injury, Curry saluted current and past players with his shoe choices before and during games.
He wore a pair of Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse’s Fila signature shoes, which were originally released in the 1990s. Other former NBA greats Curry honored included Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson (Reebok); Dikembe Mutombo (Adidas); and Kobe Bryant (Nike). He also wore shoes from current league players like Anthony Edwards (Adidas); Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson (Anta); and Tyrese Haliburton (Puma).
On and off the court, Curry’s sneaker free agency has seen him highlight lifestyle brands, as well as lesser-known companies on the basketball scene, such as Sia Collective, Brooks and Li-Ning. He also highlighted retro brands like Dada and And1. Curry additionally wore shoes made for WNBA stars like Candace Parker (Adidas), Angel Reese (Reebok) and Sabrina Ionescu (Nike).
“I’ve always believed that every pair of sneakers tells a story,” Curry said via statement. “This collection really captures a unique chapter for me during my sneaker free agency this season. From the tunnel walks to the on-court warmups to the games across the country, I was excited to spend this time shining a light on players over the years who have left their mark on the sneaker game.”