PHILADELPHIA — Stephen Curry caused a stir during the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers as he opted for a rare dunk instead of a straightforward layup. The unexpected move marked Curry’s first dunk in six years, adding a highlight moment to the match.
This notable slam dunk was the first time Curry had dunked since February 21, 2019, back at the Warriors’ former home, Oracle Arena. Despite his stellar performance of 29 points and 13 assists during Saturday night’s game, which ended in a loss to Philadelphia, Curry has not yet dunked at the team’s current venue, the Chase Center. Amusingly, the four-time NBA champion and prolific 3-pointer joked about his future on dunking, declaring that fans would not see such a move from him again in this lifetime.
Now approaching 37, Curry reflected on his dunking days post-game. He candidly announced his retirement from attempting any more dunks, acknowledging his focus would remain on maintaining his game without the high-flying theatrics. His clutch dunk, which helped narrow the 76ers’ lead to 109-104 halfway through the fourth quarter, came amidst personal challenges this season involving knee issues. “I’ve been feeling pretty good,” Curry commented. “But I wanted to seize the moment, even if it means that’s my last dunk. I’m sure it’s my last one.”
Earlier in the day, Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse had jokingly chided Curry about his reluctance to dunk during a routine morning shootaround. After executing the unexpected dunk, Curry humorously gestured at Stackhouse, highlighting the irony of the morning’s playful exchange. “It’s funny how it all came together,” Curry remarked on the coincidence. The social media buzz it generated may be the last of its kind, as Curry insists that his aerial escapades are behind him. “Absolutely,” Curry stated. “I’ll stick to layups from now on. That dunk took everything I had.”
