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When Stephen Curry entered the reclining visitors tunnel at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, the stage was set for a historic game.
Just three points away from breaking Ray Allen’s NBA record of 2,973 marks, the Golden State Warriors star wore a Curry Brand hoodie and hat for the occasion, both featuring his “Splash” logo and the number 2. 974 in blue and gold.
“It was a special atmosphere,†Curry said after the record-breaking game. “I knew the Garden would measure up, in terms of being emblematic of this place.”
With the record in sight at the start of the season, Curry and his brand partners had anticipated this moment.
That process began with a commemorative sneaker, treated with a royal blue raised to the top of its Curry 9 Flow model, and using gold marble details and accents. The heel tab featured a subtle “2974” kick, and the tongue logo highlighted the four words the sniper shared with the designers at Curry Brand to describe what went into his achievement.
“Longevity. Precision. Volume. Vary.”
Al Bello / Getty Images
Sports industry brands face factory delays and a slippery launch schedule due to manufacturer shutdowns linked to the coronavirus pandemic in Asia, and Curry Brand is no exception. The special edition sneakers are slated for release in 2022. Only 2,974 pairs are expected to be available.
After snapping photos with Allen and Reggie Miller after the last buzzer on the pitch, Curry returned to the visitor’s locker room to enjoy the moment with his teammates. Black and yellow Curry-branded commemorative hats were handed out to Warriors players, with Curry turning around on his own.
“2,974 & Counting” was embroidered on the front.
A design collaboration with the brand of designer Dustin O. Canalin born in the Bay Area Trophy hunt, the hats featured a yellow chenille patch on the left side, declaring Curry the “all-time 3-point record holder.”
Special edition gear and sneakers have become an expected touch to record breaking, championships and All-Star Games over the past decade. This is a far cry from the simple white and green Air Jordan 13 Retros special edition that Allen laced up in 2011 for his record-breaking night.
Reading “All-Time 3 Pt Record Holder” and “2974” on the main label, the back of the bottle features a passage written by Curry last spring in anticipation of the record which will also be included on a commemorative card with the “2974” â€Curry 9 Flux:
“LONGEVITY AND PRECISION
I never wanted to get up there with Ray and Reggie until it was time, because I enjoy and understand how hard it is to shoot the ball like that.
Year after year after year.
But it’s not a question of volume for me.
This is the standard I wanted to set for controlling both attempts and percentage.
Riding with Ray and Reg looks amazing now.
During and after the match, Curry wanted to incorporate the two who “set the bar.”
As he sat on the hardwood in the garden, he was surrounded by Allen’s No. 20 Celtics jersey and Miller’s No. 31 striped Pacers uni, with a Royal Warriors road jersey wearing the No. 2974 in place of its long-standing No. 30.
“I admired these two guys my whole childhood,†he said. “The three of us can really say we’re the only ones who know what it’s like to shoot at this level. I hope they appreciate the inspiration they gave me to think I could do this on my own.
Whether it was being overwhelmed with emotion as play was interrupted to recognize the moment just five minutes after the start of the first quarter, handing the game ball to his father Dell along the just after the bottom line, or the embrace and conversation shared with Allen and Miller after the final buzzer, the night became a highlight of Curry’s 33-year-old.
“It definitely got past him,†he said with a smile. “This is something I dreamed of.”
To round off the evening, Curry picked up his father’s game ball after dinner and pulled out a Sharpie.
“12/14/21 @ MSG. 2974 AND ACCOUNT, â€he began to write.
On the panel below – without stopping for a second – he added in all caps:
“THE GREATEST SHOT OF ALL TIME! ”
His stenographic, sharp autograph followed and he returned the ball to his father.
“I never wanted to call myself the greatest shooter until I got this record,†he said. “I’m comfortable saying it now. “
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