Warriors Star Steph Curry Turned Heads With His Orlando Arrival

Before the Golden State Warriors took the floor in Orlando on Tuesday, Stephen Curry made the tunnel his stage again. With his sneaker free agency now fully underway after splitting from Under Armour, Curry used the Warriors’ trip to face the Orlando Magic to honor two of the franchise’s all-time icons.

Cameras caught Curry arriving at the Kia Center in the black-and-white Reebok Shaqnosis, the same silhouette tied forever to Shaquille O’Neal during his Magic years. For warmups, he switched into the Nike Air Penny 2 “Volt”, a bright tribute to Penny Hardaway and Orlando’s 90s era. The clip circulated quickly online, and fans immediately understood what Curry was doing — paying respect while enjoying a freedom he hasn’t had in more than a decade.

Golden State Guard Continues to Explore His Sneaker Freedom

Curry has wasted no time experimenting since stepping away from Under Armour last week. He had been the face of their basketball business for 12 years, helping launch Curry Brand and producing one of the league’s most consistent signature lines. With the partnership now dissolved, Curry Brand will continue independently, and Curry is free to lace up whatever he wants before games.

That freedom was already on display last Friday, when Curry warmed up for the Warriors’ NBA Cup matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in a pair of Nike Kobe 6 “Mambacita Sweet 16” sneakers. The look was meaningful for another reason: Curry began his NBA career as a Nike athlete in 2009, and his connection to Kobe Bryant runs deep. Kobe joined Nike in 2003, helping create one of the most iconic sneaker lines ever, and Curry has spoken often about how much Bryant’s mindset influenced him.

Reflecting on the moment, Curry told reporters that wearing those Kobes “spoke for itself,” adding, “I just wanted to take advantage of that moment and pay tribute. I think it gave me some good energy tonight.”

That emotional throughline has continued into every game since.

What It Means for the Warriors and Curry’s Next Big Decision

On the court, Curry delivered again with 34 points in the Warriors’ 121–113 loss to the Magic. Jimmy Butler added 33, though Orlando controlled the game with six players scoring in double figures.

Off the court, the sneaker world is buzzing. Curry will have no shortage of suitors. Shaq, now President of Reebok Basketball, would love to bring the Warriors star into the fold. Nike is in the mix too, especially with Curry slipping back into Kobes last week. His warmup choices feel intentional — subtle hints, respectful nods and reminders of the people who shaped pieces of his basketball identity.

And with Curry Brand shifting to outside investment, there’s always the possibility he keeps building his own thing rather than joining someone else’s.

Warriors Star Is Turning Pregame Moments Into Storylines

If the first few games are any indication, Curry is treating sneaker free agency as an opportunity, not an obligation. His pregame fits have meaning. His warmups tie back to memories, mentors and basketball eras that mattered to him. Even when he eventually changes into his Curry Series 7, the groundwork is already laid.

Fans can expect him to keep switching it up. Some tributes might be to legends, some to peers, and some to moments only Curry understands. But the message so far is clear: he’s enjoying this chapter, and he’s controlling the narrative one pair at a time.

It might end up being one of the most entertaining Warriors subplots of the entire season.

AJ Brown's future with the Eagles grows uncertain as performance questions and contract realities collide for the rest of the season

he AJ Brown trade back in 2022 was transformative for the Philadelphia Eagles. The star wide receiver helped consolidate Jalen Hurts as a viable franchise quarterback and was a key part of the Super Bowl team last season. But 2025 has been a tough year for the receiver, and for the Eagles’ passing offense in general.

Like never before, there have been rumors about Brown’s future in Philly. Fans might not want to hear it, but general manager Howie Roseman is always looking at all of his possibilities. And moving on from AJ Brown next offseason shouldn’t be completely off the table.

Brown signed a three-year extension with the Eagles last year, so it’s unrealistic for them to release him — and, all things considered, Roseman wouldn’t do it anyway. The dead money would be $72.4 million, which could be split in two years with a post-June 1 designation.

But a trade makes the situation more palatable. If AJ Brown were traded before June next year, the dead money would be $43.4 million. The team would lose $20.055 million in cap space, so you could think this is certainly a bad deal. However, the trade would clear up $22.672 million in 2027, $27.555 million in 2028, $29.307 million in 2029, and, wait for it, $53.52 million in 2030, which is a void year for his contract.

Because of age and contract, Brown isn’t as valuable now as he was when the Eagles acquired him from the Tennessee Titans. Nevertheless, the veteran receiver is slated to make a reasonable $21 million next season, $21 million in 2027, $32 million in 2028, and $31 million in 2029. His 2026 compensation is fully guaranteed by now, but there are only $4 million becoming fully-guaranteed for 2027 on the third league day of 2026.

That means the Eagles could still generate, let’s say, a Day 2 pick in return. The combination of extra draft capital, extra cap space, and more targets to Devonta Smith doesn’t sound like such a crazy plan.

Performance

Be it for circumstances or because of his individual play, AJ Brown has regressed. At 28, he’s had 38 receptions for 457 yards and three touchdowns so far this season.

Going beyond to analyze the advanced stats, Brown has had a career low 1.59 yards per route run, career low 96.9 passer rating when targeted, and 11.9 in average depth of target (second worst number of his career).

The Eagles are obviously competing for a Super Bowl this year, so this is a conversation that will only take place later on. But AJ Brown must have this understanding, because the next seven games and whatever he does in the playoffs will likely determine his future as an Eagle.

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