Steph Curry

It takes a special type of atmosphere to leave a player with six NBA Finals appearances, three gold medals, and a 16-year professional incapable of explanation. Yet, as Stephen Curry processed seeing his 11-year “Splash Brother” shooting on — as he called it — the other end of “the blacktop at recess,” one inevitable, competitive challenge remained: reminding the NBA world of who Golden State’s playground belongs to. Fueled by the adrenaline of a Chase Center already in mid-eruption, Curry takes his crunchtime artistry to a place exclusive to almost him, hunting out a pick-and-roll switch against Dereck Lively II. Authoring an ever-special moment, even after having done it thousands of times, Curry captures another unforgettable sequence, breaking free of the Dallas Mavericks center through a crossover before elevating into a game-clinching, goosebumps-inducing triple, accompanied by a trademark “Night Night” celebration. Curry’s greatness arrived in different layers, the last of which arriving by scoring the Golden State Warriors’ final 12 points to seal a once-improbable come-from-behind victory. The ultimate superstar on November 12, 2024’s emotional night, Curry’s final tally read as follows: 37 points (on 14-of-27 shooting), six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, two blocks, five 3-pointers, and a +24 plus-minus.