Coming off a 2014-15 MVP campaign in which he led the Golden State Warriors to their first NBA title in 40 years, Stephen Curry guided the Dubs to 24 consecutive victories to start the 2015-16 season as they rolled to the best regular-season record in NBA history (73-9). Baby-Faced Assassin won his second straight league MVP award – becoming the first to ever do so unanimously – as he led the NBA in scoring (30.1) and steals (2.1), while adding 6.7 assists and a career-best 5.4 rebounds per contest. Fresh off the Warriors’ third championship in four seasons, we are proud to feature this pair of Steph’s playoff game-worn and autographed sneakers from his special 73-win, unanimous-MVP season.
On May 11, 2016, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Dubs finished off the Portland Trailblazers with a closely fought 125-121 home victory at Oracle. Curry had been sidelined for most of the playoffs to that point – first with a bum ankle and then with an MCL sprain in his knee. Following a 40-point splash in his first game back from the knee injury in Game 4, which gave the Dubs a commanding 3-1 series advantage, Steph dropped in 29 points with 11 dimes and five boards in the clincher, all while wearing these flashy blue and yellow colorway Under Armour ‘Curry 2.5’ PE shoes.
Each shoe is certified by Curry’s exclusive memorabilia provider, Fanatics Authentic, for its game use and autograph. In addition, the experts at Resolution Photomatching have conclusively matched the pair to the second half of the 5/11/16 game using Getty images 530897564 and 531217086. Photo evidence proved that Steph wore a different pair (white/black/gold colorway) in the first quarter before switching to this offered pair for the final three periods. (He and other stars are prone to switching shoes during games, usually at halftime.)
The Curry 2.5 design is “inspired by the spearheads of ancient warriors and is equipped with molded details said to be inspired by the lights of the Bay Bridge in California. Adding more of a ‘Warriors’ feel to the shoe are the actual coordinates of Oracle Arena placed on the heel” (KicksOnFire.com). The hard rubber exterior has grooved lines and diamond shapes mixed in, adding a unique look within the gradual yellow-to-blue color blend. Steph’s clever “SC/30” dual-image logo adorns the outer ankles as well as the insoles and the base of the tongues. The UA logo is stamped on the outsoles, upper tongues and the side of the heels. Both shoes are properly tagged on the interior with a manufacturing date of “02/2016.”
Coming in his standard size 12.5, each shoe has been inscribed by Steph in typical fashion. “WSC” [Wardell Stephen Curry] is penned in silver marker on the front base of the right shoe, and his favorite bible verse “I Can do all things…” from “Romans 8:28” are each labeled in the same area on the left shoe. The handwriting along with the unique blue spotting pattern in the yellow base make photo-matching these shoes a piece of cake. In addition, Curry has autographed the inner-facing ankle on the right shoe in 8-9/10 silver marker, with “NBA Rec 73-9” inscribed at the same location on the left shoe. The shoes display even and appropriate wear throughout. A sticky red substance is stuck to the bottom of one (perhaps licorice or something a fan dropped on the court that evening). Awesome gamers from the greatest shooter of all-time’s greatest individual season.
Fanatics Auth. # GUBK-000119 (left) and GUBK-000120 (right). LOA from Resolution Photomatching. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (autograph and inscriptions).