Stephen Curry made his message clear before the opening tip in Dallas, choosing symbolism over subtlety as he paid public respect to Kyrie Irving during the Golden State Warriors‘ loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors star arrived at American Airlines Center wearing Irving‘s Anta Roots “Ombre Blue” sneakers, then took it a step further by debuting the ANTA KAI 3 during the game. The footwear choice immediately stood out, particularly given the long and intense competitive history between the two guards. On the court, Curry delivered as expected, scoring 38 points in a tightly contested road defeat to the Mavericks.
After the game, Curry explained that the move was deliberate and driven by respect rather than marketing.
“It’s nothing but mutual respect and admiration for what he’s done in his career,” Curry told reporters when asked about his relationship with Irving. “The battles that we’ve had, the deeper you get into it, you appreciate the fact that his talent raised your level throughout the journey. We don’t get to spend much time together, but there’s that mutual respect you can feel. Like you said, the All-Star Game, we had an amazing conversation.”
Curry and Kyrie Irving were once central figures in one of the NBA‘s defining rivalries, facing each other repeatedly on the Finals stage during Irving‘s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those matchups helped define an era and elevate both players’ legacies during a peak period of star-driven basketball.
From fierce rivalry to shared appreciation
As the years have passed, the edge of that rivalry has softened. Both players are now veteran stars still performing at an elite level, and the mutual respect between them has become increasingly visible. Curry‘s decision carried extra significance because Irving has yet to officially debut the ANTA KAI 3 himself.
Irving is currently signed with ANTA Sports, a global sportswear brand valued at roughly $27.8 billion, but remains sidelined while recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season. Curry acknowledged that context before stepping onto the court in Irving‘s signature shoes.
“I hit him before tonight to make sure he was cool with me wearing his shoes,” Curry added. “I know he hasn’t had a chance to debut himself on the court. But he said the admiration goes both ways.”
