PHILADELPHIA — The last time Steph Curry dunked in an NBA game, Kevin Durant was credited with the assist. It was in Oracle Arena. Moses Moody reminded reporters that he was still in high school.
“Six years ago,” Curry said. “At home. Right wing, back cut.”
curry’s last dunk was assisted by kevin durant https://t.co/qaSGo94I1j pic.twitter.com/5OoNz0k2I8
— jack maloney (@jackmaloneycbs) March 2, 2025
For whatever reason, assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse was feeling lively at the team’s Saturday morning shootaround in Philadelphia. He jumped in a shooting drill with Gary Payton II, Pat Spencer and Gui Santos. At one point, he told Curry he wanted to see him dunk.
“He hadn’t said that all year,” Curry said. “I haven’t heard that in years. It was a very random comment this morning.”
Stackhouse’s voice was still in the back of Curry’s mind later that night when Buddy Hield picked Guerschon Yabusele’s pocket early in the fourth quarter. Hield kicked it ahead to a wide-open Curry, and he felt enough juice in his knees to hit the springboard.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” Curry said. “Been dealing with some knee stuff all year. Wanted to take advantage of a cherry-pick opportunity.”
STEPH CURRY 2-FOOT HAMMER TIME 🔨🫣
It’s his first in-game dunk in 6 years! pic.twitter.com/E3GZU4wNe3
— NBA (@NBA) March 2, 2025
This was Curry’s first dunk in six seasons, the 27th dunk of his career and — according to Curry — the final dunk of his career.
“I’m calling it right now,” Curry said. “That was the last one you’ll see. … For sure. I will only lay the ball up. Took everything out of me to get up there.”
Steph Curry said tonight was the last dunk of his career: “I’m calling it right now.” He pointed at Jerry Stackhouse after it because Stackhouse asked him to dunk at shootaround today. He said his knees have been feeling well enough to try it. pic.twitter.com/Qr1UqwKIhI
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 2, 2025
Curry’s willingness to climb the ladder is generally a good sign for the Warriors. He turns 37 in a couple of weeks and has been dealing with knee tendinitis this season. His stat line and general aggressiveness signal how well he has felt lately. He confirmed that with the dunk and his postgame comments.
“The maintenance still requires a lot to get ready to play,” Curry said. “You’re still mindful of the knees. It’s holding stable, which is all I want — be available and be stable out there.”
Jimmy Butler’s arrival has certainly helped, delivering Curry an emotional and physical jolt. He’s more confident this Warriors team can make a long run, and he has to expend less energy while Butler is either drawing attention to him or helping carry the non-Curry units.
“We’ve performed well enough where I’ve sat a couple fourth quarters,” Curry said.
But Butler took a hard hit from Wendell Carter Jr. in the Orlando Magic game and experienced some back spasms Friday morning. He had a heat wrap around his mid-back after shootaround and was forced to miss the Philadelphia 76ers game.
That meant a heavier burden for Curry and trouble for the Warriors units that didn’t have either. In Saturday’s 126-119 loss to the Sixers, the Warriors were a plus-12 in Curry’s 36 minutes and a minus-19 in the 12 minutes he rested.
Curry was spectacular again, finishing with 29 points and 13 assists, but the game flipped when Warriors coach Steve Kerr opted to rest him for a long first-half stretch and they couldn’t score without him or Butler.
“We got three (games) in four nights,” Kerr said. “I can’t play him 40 minutes. I don’t really want to play him much more than 34, 35.”
Kerr said he was “desperate” enough to limit Curry’s second-half rest to only a few minutes, getting him back in early in the fourth quarter. But it wasn’t enough. The Warriors stumbled down the stretch and fell a half-game back of the LA Clippers for the sixth seed. They have a road back-to-back against the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks on Monday and Tuesday. Butler is considered day to day.
Steve Kerr on Steph Curry’s long first half rest (shortened in second half): “We got three in four nights. I can’t play him 40 minutes. I don’t really want to play him much more than 34, 35.” pic.twitter.com/PJxEnQ7ODs
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 2, 2025
(Photo: Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)
