Online Auction: 13–28 April 2026 • 9:30 PM EDT • New York
“I’ve always believed that every pair of sneakers tells a story. This collection really captures a unique chapter for me during my sneaker free agency this season. From the tunnel walks to the on-court warm-ups to the games across the country, I was excited to spend this time shining a light on players over the years who have left their mark on the sneaker game.”
- Stephen Curry
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There is a specific kind of electricity generated when a transcendent athlete becomes untethered. On November 13th, 2025, when Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry announced, for the first time in his career, he was not tied to a specific athletic wear brand partner, the sneaker industry did not simply take notice. It held its breath.
The following evening, in San Antonio, Curry walked to the court in the Nike Kobe 6 Protro "Mambacita," a colorway honouring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, produced in partnership with Vanessa Bryant. The choice of shoe was not incidental. Kobe Bryant's 2002-03 season remains the most celebrated chapter in the history of sneaker free agency: unbound by contract, Bryant rotated through exclusive player-editions of Air Jordans, Reeboks, and Nike PEs, imagery that has since taken on an almost mythic quality. Jordan Brand, Nike, and Reebok have each produced specialized releases referencing that season, among them the Air Jordan 3/8 Pack, the Nike Air Force 1 Mid, and the Reebok Question Kobe. By lacing up a shoe bearing Bryant's name on his very first night of freedom, Curry was doing more than paying tribute to an icon. He was situating himself within a lineage, and signalling, with characteristic precision, exactly what kind of free agency this would be.
Sneaker free agent Stephen Curry laces up the “Mambacita” Nike Kobe 6 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/dmm5YbjYnZ
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) November 15, 2025
Sneaker Free Agency
"Everybody should be on alert. I'm calling everybody. Trying to get some good product. But it's just fun to honor certain players from the game and current athletes who are doing great things."
- Curry in a postgame conference about his Sneaker Free Agency
Sneaker free agency has produced mythologised moments throughout NBA history. Gilbert Arenas, after his deal was terminated, scored 23 points against the Lakers in Dolce & Gabbanas. Vince Carter, fresh from his departure from Puma, delivered one of the most memorable dunk contest performances in history wearing a pair of AND1s. None, however, proved as iconic as Kobe Bryant's, whose 2002-03 season remains one of the most celebrated chapters in sneaker history. Unbound by contract, Bryant rotated through exclusive player-editions of Air Jordans, Reeboks, and Nikes, imagery that has taken on an almost mythic quality in the years since. A testament to the season's enduring legacy, Jordan Brand, Nike, and Reebok have each since had specialized releases referencing it, among them the Air Jordan 3/8 Pack, the Nike Air Force 1 Mid, and the Reebok Question Kobe.
Curry’s Free Agency
Unlike anything that had come before, Curry's free agency unfolded across nearly an entire season, in full view of a global audience primed for instantaneous reaction. Night after night, each footwear choice generated its own cycle of social media coverage, dissected and debated before the final buzzer had sounded. His selections ranged far beyond the boundaries of basketball: retro Air Jordans designed for off-court wear, a tennis shoe made for Roger Federer, repeated and deliberate tributes to the women's game and the WNBA. He rotated through Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Reebok, Li-Ning, ANTA, New Balance, Puma, AND1, DADA Supreme, On, HOKA, and more, spanning brands across North America, Europe, and Asia, from global giants to the boutique and the unexpected.
The deliberateness behind each choice was unmistakable. The Air Jordan 12 "Flu Game" worn arriving in Utah, Jordan's iconic Finals shoe in Jazz territory, was a studied provocation. The Reebok Shaqnosis worn in Orlando was a direct tribute to Shaquille O'Neal. The Nike Sabrina 3, worn in game with Sabrina Ionescu watching from the stands, was a public statement of solidarity with one of the WNBA's defining stars. Each pair was a reflection of Curry's history and his love for the game, worn for reasons that needed no explanation to a global audience already paying close attention.
What elevated the free agency beyond any precedent, however, was the stature of the man at its centre. Curry is not simply one of the great players of his generation. He is one of a handful of athletes who altered the sport at its foundations, whose influence on how basketball is played, coached, and understood will be felt for generations. No player of that standing had ever navigated free agency in the age of instantaneous mass reaction. Touched by that intersection of greatness, intentionality, and cultural moment, each pair carries a weight without parallel in the history of sport footwear.
The Nike Hyperdunk 2010 Stephen Curry 'Christmas' PE
Perhaps one of the most personal choices from throughout the free agency came on Christmas Day when Curry laced his 2010 Nike Hyderdunk PEs from his first Christmas Day game for warmups. This was the only pair that Curry had previously worn in an NBA game and wore again during his free agency.
The lots presented here document over four months of Curry's free agency. Each is offered individually, giving collectors the opportunity to own a piece of one of the most singular chapters of his career.
Curry on the Sale and his Collection
Stephen Curry said about the collection:
“I’ve always believed that every pair of sneakers tells a story. This collection really captures a unique chapter for me during my sneaker free agency this season. From the tunnel walks to the on-court warm-ups to the games across the country, I was excited to spend this time shining a light on players over the years who have left their mark on the sneaker game.
From the legendary NBA stars that I grew up admiring, to the current players that I’ve enjoyed competing against, along with some of the biggest names in the WNBA that are helping to drive the momentum across the women’s game, I had so much fun breaking out pairs all season long that each meant so much to me. When you look back at both sneaker culture and basketball history, each pair represents an iconic moment, groundbreaking athlete or key chapter over the years in the NBA and WNBA.
“Seeing him wear my shoes, it's just like I was a kid again.”
- Anthony Edwards on Curry wearing his signature shoe
I’m excited to share this unique catalog in a way that lets fans be part of the journey. Partnering with Sotheby’s to bring this auction to life gives these sneakers a platform beyond the game, where they can live on and mean something to someone else.
What makes this even more special is the impact it can have off the court. Every dollar raised will support Eat. Learn. Play. — the foundation that I co-founded with Ayesha — where we focus on the everyday needs that shape a child’s future with access to food, literacy, and safe places to play and grow.
That’s always been the bigger purpose for me. There’s no better feeling than being able to celebrate the game and enjoy everything around it, while also opening doors and giving back. I hope these special pairs that were part of a key time in my sneaker journey can carry that same energy forward.”
Eat. Learn. Play.
Founded in 2019 by Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry, the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation supports children's well-being through access to nutritious meals, quality reading resources, and opportunities to play and remain active, grounded in the belief that every child deserves the chance to experience a happy, healthy childhood.
Adopting a comprehensive "whole child, whole school" approach, the Foundation provides the essential resources and support students need to thrive academically and reach their full potential. For the individual child, this has included access to nutritious food, high-dosage literacy tutoring, and organized sports programs. For the broader school community, the initiative has focused on transforming physical spaces to ensure equitable access to dignified and joyful environments in which to eat, learn, and play — notably through the revitalization of schoolyards, cafeterias, libraries, and gymnasiums throughout Oakland.
Each sneaker was personally worn by Stephen Curry and are being consigned directly from his collection. 100% of the hammer price will be remitted to the EAT. LEARN. PLAY. Foundation. The Buyer's Premium and any applicable overhead fees will be retained by Sotheby's. No portion of the purchase price is tax-deductible.
