In the recent Knicks vs Warriors game, Stephen Curry's decision to wear Ionescu’s shoes a third time hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Golden State Warriors star, who recently parted ways with Under Armour, has been exploring different footwear options. The blue design with bold neon yellow accents was functional as Curry was warming up in the pre-game in the new Nike Sabrina 3 Player Edition.

“They’re great shoes,” Curry said. "Obviously, I like her story, the friendship, the whole deal." Curry’s choice of footwear goes beyond just a stylistic choice. “I love being able to support her out on the court”.

The point guard had already debuted an unreleased colorway that matched the Warriors’ jerseys in a Portland vs Warriors game. The Warriors defeated the Blazers with a big margin of 119-97.

Another appearance in the Sabrina 3s was during a matchup against the Utah Jazz. And, Sabrina Ionescu herself was in attendance when the Warriors went on to win by 134–117.

But if you think this is a coincidence, it might be interesting to note that Curry has admitted to being intentional with his shoe choices.

"I've tried to kind of condense the type of shoes I’m wearing on the court. Just the more you get into it, you kind of want to have a little bit of consistency, even though I’ve been trying a bunch of different stuff," he explained.

Curry’s connection with Sabrina Ionescu

While Curry has several options at his disposal, wearing the New York Liberty Stars' line for the third time marks a special connection. “It is always a great honor knowing the relationship that we have,” Curry said.

That connection isn’t driven by business motives. Curry has made it clear that his goal is to support players, not attract new partners for a potential shoe deal. When asked whether he liked Sabrina’s shoe or simply wanted to support her, Curry immediately said, “All of the above.”

Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu’s bond goes beyond basketball. “We have a long history. She’s from the Bay, and I’ve followed her career closely,” Curry said. At one point, Curry even tried to recruit Ionescu to join Under Armour before she signed with Nike, though he joked, “It’s hard to get an Oregon Duck to leave Nike.”

That shared history has also played out on the court. Ionescu pushed Stephen Curry to the limit during the NBA All-Star Weekend 3-point challenge in early 2024. But lately, it’s been more than just shooting skills that continue to connect the two.

What do you think? Which one is your favorite Sabrina Ionescu design? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Fatema Kapasi

Edited by

Joyita Das