Stephen Curry: Trash-Talking Kobe, Drake's Loyalty, and His Retirement Plan

Key Takeaway

Stephen Curry, a legendary figure in the NBA, has shared various insights during an interview that delves into his experiences as a rookie, his friendship with LeBron James and Drake, his views on player equity, and his thoughts on retirement. The discussion covers a range of topics that highlight his journey and perspectives on the game.

Quick Navigation

• Is Steph Curry "Unc" Now?
• Debunking the Katt Williams Shooting Myth
• Trash Talking Kobe Bryant
• Curry's Cornrow Superstition
• Why NBA Players Are Underpaid
• Highest Basketball IQ Players
• Drake Friendship and "Not Like Us" Reaction
• Has Steph Curry Ruined Basketball Culture?
• Best Team He's Ever Played On
• Steph Curry on Being Named in Rap Lyrics
• Record-Breaking 3-Point Streak
• The Biggest Shot of Steph Curry's Career
• Steph Curry's Relationship with LeBron James
• PLEZi and the Obama Connection
• Retirement Plans
• Steph Curry Reacts to $240M Net Worth Estimates
• Anecdote Highlights

Trash-Talking Kobe as a Rookie

Curry recalls the bold moment he tried to rattle Kobe Bryant—and the icy stare he got in return. This incident showcases his early confidence and the legendary mental toughness of Bryant.

The Fake Katt Williams Story

Curry clarified the viral tale about Williams teaching him to shoot. While the story is fictional, it highlights the power of storytelling and how it can influence perceptions.

Cornrow Curse

A brief hairstyle experiment during the pandemic led to a shooting slump—and a superstition that still stands. This anecdote reveals his superstitious nature and dedication to performance.

"We're Underpaid"

Curry explains why NBA players deserve equity stakes and how the current system shortchanges them. He emphasizes the need for players to have a stake in the revenue they help generate.

"Not Like Us" Overload

During the Olympics, Kendrick's diss track was everywhere—awkward for someone who's tight with Drake. This moment reflects the challenges of navigating personal relationships in the public eye.

Smartest Players in the Game

He names Chris Paul and LeBron James as the highest basketball IQ players he's ever seen. Their ability to orchestrate offenses and control game tempo is highly praised.

The Dream Team Vibes of 2024

Curry calls the 2024 USA Olympic squad the "greatest collection of talent" he's ever been a part of. This comparison highlights the depth of talent and the challenge of working together in such a short time.

Hearing His Name in Rap Songs

From Cardi B to Drake, Curry shares what it's like to suddenly hear his name drop in music. This experience underscores the cultural impact of his basketball success.

Steph & LeBron's Friendship

From college admiration to bowling nights in Akron, Curry and LeBron built a bond that grew into mutual respect. Their friendship includes memorable moments like visiting LeBron's house and meeting young Bronny.

His Relationship with the Obamas

His partnership with Michelle Obama on the beverage company PLEZi is an extension of his friendship with the First Family. This venture focuses on nutritious drinks for kids and families.

Retirement? Not Yet.

Curry is thinking in two-year chunks but isn't ready to hang it up anytime soon. He emphasizes the importance of retiring on his own terms while still performing at a high level.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Basketball IQ: A player's mental sharpness and strategic understanding of the game.
• Equity Participation: A business model in which individuals (like athletes) receive ownership shares or profit interest.
• Davidson: A private college in North Carolina where Stephen Curry played NCAA basketball.
• Dream Team: A nickname for the 1992 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team.
• NBA OG: Slang for a veteran NBA player with credibility and long-standing respect in the league.
• Unc: Slang for "uncle," used to show respect or affection toward an older male figure.
• PLEZi: A healthy beverage brand co-founded by Michelle Obama and the Currys.
• 360 With Speedy: A long-form celebrity interview series hosted by Speedy Morman.

Is Steph Curry "Unc" Now?

At 36 years old, Stephen Curry acknowledges his veteran status in the NBA. But is he "unc" now? Curry reflects on a few moments that changed his perspective on his age, including hearing NBA rookies say that anyone born in the '90s is "unc," and telling a camp of Davidson Wildcats that it had been 16 years since he wore their jersey.

Whether it's "OG" or "unc," Curry is more focused on redefining how those terms are perceived. "When I was looking at my true uncles—and no disrespect, I love them—but that seemed old back in the day," he shared. "But now I'm trying to change what that actually looks like, feels like, and means. So yeah, I feel it, and I embrace it."

Debunking the Katt Williams Shooting Myth

Did comedian Katt Williams really help develop Steph Curry's shooting ability? The story reveals the power of storytelling versus reality. Curry clarified the viral tale about Williams teaching him to shoot. "The power of storytelling. I'm not saying that everything he says is fabricated, but that specific story, 100% never happened. But the power of a storyteller to kind of wrap you in and set the tone. He had my family calling me."

Despite the fictional nature of the story, Curry is a big fan of Williams, and appreciated his creativity. "First off, I was an underrated three-star recruit. Ain't no way I'm getting paid to come somewhere to play in an All-Star game like all star camp or whatever. And I've never seen Katt shoot. I know he plays golf now—I'd love to play golf with him at some point. But, yeah, I won't be thanking him in my retirement speech."

Trash Talking Kobe Bryant

What happened when rookie Steph Curry tried to intimidate Kobe Bryant? The story reveals Curry's early confidence and Bryant's legendary mental toughness. During a home game at Oracle Arena, Curry approached the Lakers legend at the free-throw line. "I just walked by. I'm like, ‘Yo, you nervous?'" Curry recalled asking Bryant.

Bryant's response was immediate and unforgettable. "The look he gave me was one that has been burned into my—like one, he's a rookie talking to me, and two, like am I nervous? Like, what are you talking about?" The lesson learned? "The look he gave me said it all. It was like, ‘You just got here, relax. Stay in your lane," Curry reflected on the humbling experience.

Curry's Cornrow Superstition

How did cornrows affect Steph Curry's shooting? The answer reveals his superstitious nature and dedication to performance. Curry detailed his brief cornrow experiment during the COVID-affected season. "I had the struggle braids, where I had a little—just enough to close it up. And then I started the year I think I was, I don't know what my percentage was like. High 20s, low 30s, maybe."

The solution came through superstition. "I was in Chicago in the hotel after we lost to Brooklyn, and we lost in Milwaukee the first two games of that season. And I'm in the hotel, picking out my own [braids]. I didn't have my barber with me and I just let it just hang." His shooting improved immediately after removing the braids, leading to a personal rule: "I won't ever have 'em again. Just off of that."

Why NBA Players Are Underpaid

Why does Steph Curry think NBA players deserve more money? His answer focuses on equity participation and partnership with ownership. Curry explained the fundamental issue with current NBA compensation. "I think because the way the CBA is structured right now, we can't participate in equity. And that's a big deal because, you know, it is a partnership with ownership. It's a partnership with the league. And we're on the short term of that revenue."

He emphasized the unique value players bring: "The idea that we can't, you know, participate in equity while we're playing, is a part of why I would say, yes, we are underpaid because you want to be able to participate in that rise." Curry believes this would benefit both sides: "I would assume most owners would want that too, to a certain extent. Because you want motivated partners that do the extra stuff that helps grow the league, not just show up and just play and go home."

Who Has the Highest Basketball IQ?

Which NBA players does Steph Curry consider the smartest on the court? His choices reveal what he values most in basketball intelligence. Curry identified two players at the top: "Between CP and Bron, those two. And it's the way they play obviously. But the way they talk, where they can kind of orchestrate an offense, control it—like Bron's the one that controls the tempo the greatest. And CP is the one that every possession, he knows what he's trying to get out of it."

He particularly praised Chris Paul's consistency: "And at his peak, like it was, it was insane. He could get his bucket, he could get somebody with a lob or a drop down pass. He knew what play, what time to score, and all that type of stuff."

Drake Friendship and "Not Like Us" Reaction

How did Steph Curry react to hearing Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss track everywhere? His response shows loyalty to his friend while acknowledging the song's ubiquity. During the Olympics, cameras caught Curry complaining about a DJ in the arena playing "Not Like Us." Was that moment a reflection of his loyalty to Drake, or just a comment about the song being overexposed? "That was both. It was like everywhere we went it was all I heard. And the fact that they know who I was with. You can't do nothing about what the DJ's playing, but I got sick of it at a certain point. It's funny that the cameras caught me because that was from the soul."

Curry's friendship with Drake goes back years, with a family connection. "We go way back though, and it's actually kind of a family thing too. One of Ayesha's cousins is from Toronto and the whole deal. So we're all in the same boat."

Has Steph Curry Ruined Basketball Culture?

Does Steph Curry feel guilty about inspiring bad shot selection? His response shows thoughtful consideration of his influence on the game. When asked if he ruined basketball by popularizing a 3-pointer-centric approach to the game, Curry referenced former coach Mark Jackson's criticism. "He's like, ‘You're ruining high school basketball.' Because his kids were playing at a time. And he's like, ‘When I walk in the gym, everybody's just throwing out 30-footers."

He emphasized the process behind his shooting: "I made a public service announcement, like please stop tagging me and posting me of horrible shot selection in games, 'cause there is a process that is going into the way that I play, and that's what I preach." But does he feel guilty? "I feel zero guilt."

The Best Team Steph Curry Ever Played On

What does Steph Curry consider his greatest team experience? While he admitted that the 2024 USA Olympic team was the greatest collection of talent, his pick for the top team was a prime Warriors year. "The greatest team I played on—which is kind of weird to say—it's a tie between '15 - '16 and '16 - '17 team. Like, those two, for different reasons—the chemistry, the placement of roles. That was peak basketball."

He compared the Olympic experience to the legendary Dream Team: "It's hard to find a collection of guys with the resumes, and in their prime, and the up and comers—it just all fit, it worked." The challenge made it special: "It is easy to say because we won and how it went down, but it's really hard for a team like that to figure it out and mesh in seven weeks. We had to figure it out. There wasn't nothing easy about Serbia and France in those last two games. Which is why you saw a celebration like that."

Steph Curry on Being Named in Rap Lyrics

What's it like for Steph Curry to randomly hear his name in songs? His experience shows the widespread cultural impact of his basketball success. Most mentions come as complete surprises, like the first time he and his wife Ayesha heard Cardi's shout out from "Be Careful" in 2018: "The funniest one was me and Ayesha in the car just driving on the street, and Cardi B came on and was like, ‘I want to get married like the Currys, Steph and Ayesha, but we more like [Belly,] Tommy and Keisha.'"

It's not easy for him to keep up with all the mentions: "I think my company posted something recently about all the different shout outs that I got, and some of them I didn't remember or hadn't heard before. So I actually spent like ten minutes going through it." Drake was notably the only artist to personally notify Curry about song mentions: "He was the only one that I've experienced so far who called me to tell me like, ‘Yo, you got to hear this.' Other than that it's totally a surprise." In Drake's 2014 song "0 to 100 / The Catch Up," he raps, "I been Steph Curry with the shot/Been cookin' with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot, boy."

Record-Breaking 3-Point Streak

What's the most three-pointers Steph Curry has made in a row? The answer showcases his incredible consistency and mental approach. Curry revealed his personal record during practice. "105—it's actually on video. To your earlier question, that was the day after I took my cornrows."

The streak occurred during a specific drill: "I do a game after practice where you shoot five spots around the arc, and you start in the corner. The first 2 are free, like if you make 'em, great, if you miss, it doesn't matter. But after the third one, you shoot till you miss in that spot. Like I try to get to 50 around all 5 spots, but this particular day, I got to 105 in the first spot. I think I ended up with 140-something in the drill." His mental state during the streak: "I wish I had a transcript of all the thoughts that I had and conversations going on in my head because that's a long time—I want to say it was like ten minutes or so. It's like meditation."

The Biggest Shot of Steph Curry's Career

What does Steph Curry consider the most important shot he's ever made? His answer goes back to college and a moment that changed everything. When asked about his biggest shot, Curry didn't choose from his NBA career but instead went back to college: "It's the shot against Gonzaga when I was at Davidson," he says.

The shot came during a crucial tournament moment: "I really feel like that was a difference maker, in terms of not just that run that we had—because it was the first round, it was a tie game, was like just under a minute left." Curry described the play in detail: "Andrew Lovedale, my big man at Davidson got the biggest offensive rebound. And it was like slow motion. Like he got the rebound. Palmed it with one hand, threw it to me. I made it, we go up three. You're like, Oh Davidson, we're about to win a tournament game. I point at my parents and the whole deal."

The significance went beyond just winning the game: "And then like that just started a snowball of that tournament run. And then your stardom goes up a little bit, and you kind of carry that confidence. And not to say I wouldn't be able to figure it out, had we lost that game. But that was a big moment. Had that shot not gone down, like who knows how it would have played out?" Curry reflected on the butterfly effect: "In your life, everybody has these moments like, oh, you know, if things went a different way in that moment, your life could go a different path, right?" The shot's impact on his trajectory was profound: "I think about that stuff a lot, for sure, because my faith is a big part of who I am. There's no real rhyme or reason, like stuff happens and you're always grateful and thankful and trying to figure out the purpose of it."

Steph Curry's Relationship with LeBron James

How did Steph Curry's relationship with LeBron James develop? The story spans from college recognition to deep friendship and Olympic partnership. The relationship began when Curry was still at Davidson. "We were playing in the Sweet 16 against Wisconsin in 2008, and he came to Ford Field in Detroit and watched that game. And I went off, and they would cut to him every time I hit a bucket. And he was doing, you know, the animated celebrations and all that."

Their first meeting came the following year in Charlotte: "Fast forward the following year they were in Charlotte playing the Bobcats at the time, and we were playing like the 1:00 game against NC State. And he came to the game that afternoon sat courtside, I dropped 40 something." LeBron made a lasting impression by giving Curry a signed jersey: "That's when I first met him. I came back to the game that night, and after the game he came out the locker room with the jersey and wrote "to the king of basketball in North Carolina." So I signed it, and I had it on my wall the rest of college."

The early friendship included memorable moments like visiting LeBron's house: "This was rookie year that was the next year after, and I called him up like, ‘Oh, I'm in Cleveland.' He's like, ‘Come to the crib in Akron.' And I was born in Akron, so I was like, I'm going to Akron. Like I'm hanging out with Bron. Bron is who he is. Like, he is mad fun, goofy. Just wants to have fun." The visit included competitive activities: "He had a big old video wall with 16 different screens. And then he said, ‘Oh, there's a bowling alley over here.' I'm like, ‘What are you talking about?' Never seen that before. And so we go bowling. Actually, it might have been a little bit of a competitive advantage for him, because my wrist was hurting after bowling and I was like, Damn, now I gotta shoot tomorrow?"

Curry also remembered meeting young Bronny: "But I remember how athletic Bronny looked and like, it maybe couldn't have been more than 3 or 4. And how fast he ran. And I was like, ‘He going somewhere.' And now to see him in the league is crazy."

PLEZi and the Obama Connection

What drives Steph Curry's business decisions? His approach focuses on family values and authentic partnerships. Regarding his PLEZi drink company, Curry explained the motivation: "Understanding the integrity of the ingredients that go into each bottle, each can, each box for the entire family. But as a parent, obviously, you want to make sure that you're putting the right stuff in your kids."

The Obama family partnership adds credibility to the venture. Can Steph text the Obamas? "They're accessible, let's put it that way. The friendship is there. The mentorship is there. Like, and especially, you know, President Obama has been an unbelievable voice for me. I can call him and ask him a question, he's always hyping me up on the court. And to have now something that we get to do with Michelle and something that she's passionate about, and has been for a while and has taken her time to develop a product that she stands behind like, that's a big deal. So it's still surreal to even talk like that. But that's good people to be partners with for sure."

Steph Curry's Retirement Timeline

When will Steph Curry retire from basketball? He prefers to leave while still performing at a high level, his approach reveals a thoughtful strategy for ending his career on his own terms. "I'm more of the latter, I think, as I think about it right now. But I do know I'm kind of just taking it in two year chunks, just to know, like you have to give yourself something and some motivation to kind of go after for us."

He's learned from other veterans' experiences: "Like, I talked to all the guys who have been in this situation where they've extended their prime, and you know, there are more ungraceful endings than there are, like, ‘I tip my cap' type of [endings]." The goal is clear: "I just want to put myself in a position where I can say I've done everything I can to get everything out of this game. And hopefully I have, you know, my health and the choice to say, ‘I'm good.'" However, retirement isn't imminent: "I'm not nowhere close to that though."

Steph Curry Reacts to $240M Net Worth Estimates

How does Steph Curry react to estimates of his $240 million net worth? His answer reveals a focus on legacy over personal wealth tracking. When asked directly about the widely reported figure, Curry was candid: "That's not something I really worry about too much. I got somebody that takes care of that for me."

His perspective on wealth focuses on purpose: "The idea of what I have going on is about creating a portfolio of stuff that is aspirational. You wanna have something you can look back and be proud of. Knowing we've been blessed with so many opportunities and so many resources, and so many relationships, you want to be good stewards of it."

Frequently Asked Questions

• What did Steph Curry say about Katt Williams?
• Why does Steph Curry think NBA players are underpaid?
• Who does Steph Curry think has the highest basketball IQ?
• How did Steph Curry react to "Not Like Us" during the Olympics?
• What's the best team Steph Curry ever played on?
• What does Steph Curry consider his biggest shot ever?
• What's Steph Curry's relationship with LeBron James like?
• How does Steph Curry feel about his estimated net worth?
• When will Steph Curry retire?

About 360 With Speedy

360 With Speedy is a long-form conversation series hosted by Speedy Morman that explores never-before-heard stories from musicians, actors, and celebrities. The show focuses on revealing the keys to success in an ever-changing entertainment industry through candid, in-depth interviews that go beyond typical celebrity conversations. This interview showcases why Steph Curry remains one of the most compelling figures in sports—his willingness to share genuine experiences and reflect thoughtfully on his impact.