Sneaker News The sneaker industry shook to its core when news of Steph Curry’s separation from Under Armour came to light. A partnership that began in 2013 came to an end just five years after the Curry Brand was formed and the potential of a lifetime deal possibly cementing the union forever.
However, Under Armour is in dire straits, and cutting its ties to the four-time champion has allowed Curry to wear anything but the UA logo for the first time since he signed that deal twelve years ago.
During the pre-game shootaround before the Warriors/Spurs game, Stephen Curry took the court wearing the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita”. The last time Curry wore Nike was in 2013 before a famously botched pitch by former Dallas Mavericks GM and Nike exec Nico Harrison opened the door for Curry to explore different pastures.
Even though Steph has worn Nike before, it’s jarring–almost surreal–to see him wearing Kobe footwear.
When did Steph Curry sign with Nike?
Curry was a Nike athlete since he was drafted in 2009. He had stayed with Nike until his contract ended in 2013. During this time with Nike, Steph wore Player Exclusive colorways of the brand’s in-line models including the Nike Hyperfuse, Nike Hyperdunk, and more. While he had his own Player Exclusive logo, Curry never had a Nike signature shoe.
Why did Steph Curry leave Nike?
Steph Curry left Nike for a number of reasons. In 2013, Curry’s camp and Nike were in talks to renegotiate a new deal. During the official presentation by Nike, they had mispronounced his name and re-used a similar presentation for Kevin Durant and accidentally forgot to swap out his name. Former Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison served as VP of Nike Basketball at the time and was present at the meeting. On the business side, Nike’s offer was not as attractive as Under Armour’s; Nike offered $2.5 million annually, while its American rival offered $4 million annually and signature shoe deal. At the time, Nike’s signature shoe business was quite crowded with names like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.
Why did Steph Curry leave Under Armour?
Steph Curry and Under Armour parted ways after a thirteen-year partnership. It was part of a business restructuring for Under Armour, whose annual costs to operate Curry’s signature shoe line and Curry Brand cost more thn the amount of money it brought in. Under Armour confirms that the Curry 13 signature shoe will still launch in February 2026 and run through October. Steph owns full rights to Curry Brand and the logo.
Whill Steph Curry sign with Nike?
Currently, Steph Curry is what we call a “sneaker free agent,” which means he is not contractually obligated to wear any sneaker brand. In his first game after this announcement, Curry was seen wearing the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita” during pre-game shoot-arounds, but wore the Under Armour Curry 12 signature shoe during the game. It is unclear if, when, and where Curry will go.
