Stephen Curry recalls rookie ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment against Kobe Bryant

Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry has done it all — four championships, two MVPs, the NBA’s all-time 3-point record — and is widely regarded as the greatest shooter in league history. At 36, he’s still chasing another ring.

But long before he became the face of a dynasty, Curry was just a wide-eyed rookie getting a crash course from Kobe Bryant.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his new book Shot Ready, Curry shared a preseason memory of going head-to-head with the Lakers icon.

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“That was kind of my ‘Welcome to the NBA moment,’” Curry said. “A preseason game, I got switched on to him, and he was giving me those body blows with his elbow. Dude, I’m in awe.

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SHOT READY, my new book, is officially out now. More than a story about basketball, it’s a story about belief, resilience, and doing the work when no one’s watching. For every young dreamer who’s ever been underestimated: this… pic.twitter.com/23G1sjahhi

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“And then, my naive self is looking at the referee asking for a call like they were going to give me a call over Kobe Bryant. He caught the ball, did a little left-shoulder fadeaway, and then ran down the court.”

Curry entered the league in 2009 — the same year Bryant won his fifth and final NBA title. By then, Kobe had built a reputation for playing a punishing, physical brand of basketball.

In a March 2025 interview, Curry went into even more detail about their preseason encounter:

“My rookie year, we were playing a preseason game against the Lakers at the Forum. I didn’t play in the first quarter. I came in in the second quarter and I got switched over to him. He was posting me up, calling for the ball, and he usually had this trick where he would hold whatever side he was on. This particular time, he held his left hand up calling for the ball, and with his right hand he literally grabbed my knee and wouldn’t let me try to get around to deny the ball.”

Bryant retired in 2016 after 20 seasons with the Lakers, finishing with 33,643 points, five championships, and an endless list of accolades: the 2008 MVP, two Finals MVPs, and four All-Star Game MVPs. In honor of his legacy, the Lakers retired both his jersey numbers — 8 and 24 — a rare tribute for one of the game’s true icons.

To this day, the “Black Mamba” remains one of the most celebrated and influential figures in basketball history — a player who not only defined an era but also shaped the next generation, including Curry himself.

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