Ten Years Since Curry’s Iconic Moment

It was exactly a decade ago that Stephen Curry had a career-defining moment.

As Jimmy Butler struggles with a torn ACL and Curry is healing from a right knee injury that sidelined him for nine games, it reminds us just how fortunate we are that Curry is still able to play.

During the 2015-16 NBA season, the Warriors made history with 73 wins, culminating in a championship and setting the stage for the team’s modern dynasty.

Among all those incredible matches, one game stood out prominently.

On February 27th, the Warriors faced off against a formidable Thunder team, featuring Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, seen as major contenders for the title.

Curry, who had transformed the Warriors from a laughingstock to the 2015 champions, was on his way to solidifying his status as the greatest shooter ever.

This game was crucial in cementing his legacy.

With just 8.4 seconds left in overtime, with the score tied at 118, Westbrook missed a challenge. Andre Iguodala snagged the rebound and passed it to Curry as time was running out. Coach Steve Kerr opted not to call a timeout, allowing the play to unfold organically.

This set the stage perfectly for Curry’s brilliance.

He took three dribbles, barely crossed half court, and launched a 38-foot three-pointer over Andre Roberson’s outstretched arm.

The ball swished through the net with just 0.6 seconds remaining.

Announcer Mike Breen’s iconic call— “They have a timeout and they decided not to use it. Curry, downtown… Bang! Bang! Oh, what a shot by Curry!”—still resonates.

Curry raced down the court, arms raised, visibly ecstatic, even dancing.

You could feel the immense joy radiating from a player who had established his name as one of the greatest under pressure.

This shot soon became a classic on highlight reels, showcasing Curry’s incredible skill in challenging situations.

Curry was quite a distance from the basket, while Roberson had nearly zero chances of blocking the shot. It was a striking manifestation of his talent.

Draymond Green described the shot as “ridiculous,” while Klay Thompson said it was “the furthest I’ve ever seen him hit the ball.”

Everything about that moment felt instantly memorable—Breen’s call and the drama of the play still gives me chills whenever I revisit it.

This marked Curry’s 12th three-pointer of the game, tying him with Kobe Bryant and Donyell Marshall for the most made threes in a game at that time.

With that 46-point effort, Curry made history as the first player to hit at least 10 threes in consecutive games, following his previous 51-point performance against the Magic just two nights prior.

Even more intense, this game saw Curry miss around six minutes in the third quarter due to an ankle injury. Upon returning, he played a key role in helping the Warriors come back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth to force overtime, solidifying this as one of the most unforgettable regular-season games ever.

Over the last ten years, we’ve grown accustomed to moments like this from Curry.

He made a series of crucial 3-point shots in the 2024 Olympic gold medal game, and his pivotal shot with under two minutes left in Game 4 of the 2022 Finals contributed significantly to his Finals MVP winning performance. And let’s not forget his buzzer-beater against the Rockets in January 2022.

Curry embodies the thrill of the big moment. He operates in the moment, often defying expectations and showcasing what’s possible.

That shot against the Thunder perfectly exemplified this phenomenon.

At 37, he still has the ability to unleash that jaw-dropping shot on any given night. There’s no sign of him slowing down. Just recently, he became the oldest point guard to start in the All-Star game, and he’s still averaging 27.2 points, shooting at about 46.8 percent, with 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Though he won’t be back on the court until at least early March, events like this highlight just how amazing it is to witness someone with his greatness.

Curry has completely redefined basketball. He transformed every inch of the court into a threat and led the Warriors to four championships in eight years, all while maintaining his energetic spirit.

There’s no other player quite like Curry, and moments like these will forever remain etched in our memories.