Stephen Curry has dazzled basketball fans for years with his mind-blowing shooting range and ability to hit shots most players wouldn’t even dare attempt. But his latest viral moment wasn’t from a game-winning shot or record-breaking triple.

It came from pregame warmups, where a seemingly impossible full-court shot set social media ablaze, only to be debunked by a second camera angle.

Before the Golden State Warriors faced the Atlanta Hawks-a game they would ultimately lose 124-115-Curry took part in his usual warm-up routine.

Among the drills, he launched what looked like a full-court heave that, at first glance, appeared to swish through the net.

The shot was captured on video and quickly circulated online, with fans and analysts praising the four-time NBA champion for what seemed to be yet another feat of basketball brilliance.

The clip fueled the narrative that Curry, the league’s most revolutionary shooter, had once again defied logic. The ball appeared to float perfectly through the air before seemingly landing clean through the hoop.

Even Curry himself reacted as if the shot had gone in, briefly celebrating before returning to his routine. However, the euphoria surrounding the shot didn’t last long.

Alternate angle changes the story

Shortly after the initial footage went viral, a second video angle surfaced that told a different story. Rather than swishing through the basket, the ball had barely missed-grazing the bottom of the net but failing to go in.

The miss was so close that it fooled not only fans but Curry himself, who thought he had nailed the shot from full court.

While many fans laughed off the incident as a harmless mistake and praised Curry‘s ability to come so close to making an absurd shot, others weren’t quite as forgiving.

In particular, some LeBron James supporters seized the opportunity to criticize Curry, accusing him of allowing the misleading video to boost his legacy.

“Faking” the shot was the accusation tossed around by critics who believed Curry should have immediately clarified that the ball didn’t go in.

The situation sparked a wider debate among fans, with one side defending the Warriors star’s character and talent, and the other questioning whether viral moments like these blur the lines between genuine greatness and performative hype.