PHILADELPHIA — Stephen Curry dunked!
The Golden State Warriors’ shooting star had the ball alone for a seemingly easy, uncontested layup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night when, for the first time in six years, he instead threw down a one-handed jam.
Curry dunked for the first time since Feb. 21, 2019, at the Warriors’ old home, Oracle Arena in Oakland. Curry noted — after he scored 29 points and 13 assists in Golden State’s 126-119 loss to Philadelphia — that he hasn’t dunked at the new home, Chase Center in San Francisco.
For good measure, the four-time NBA champion who is the league’s career 3-point leader added that he never will. Curry, who turns 37 this month, said after the game he was retired from dunking.
His breakaway dunk cut the 76ers’ lead to 109-104 midway through the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” Curry said. “I’ve been dealing with some knee stuff all year. Take advantage of a cherry-pick opportunity. That will probably be my last dunk, though. I’m calling it right now, that was the last one you’ll ever see.”
Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse had teased Curry about his lack of dunking during a morning shootaround. After the slam, Curry pointed toward Stackhouse on the bench.
“It was a very random comment this morning,” Curry said, “and the fact that it happened was hilarious.”
Save the viral social media clip. There won’t be another one.
“For sure,” the 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard said. “I will only lay the ball up. It took everything out of me to get up there.”