Stephen Curry is used to being a trendsetter. The four-time NBA champion revolutionized basketball with his extraordinary three point shooting ability.
Now, Curry has sports stars the world over mimicking his famous – or infamous if you’re from Boston – ‘night night’ celebration.
The Davidson star first brought it to the fore during a playoff game in Denver last season. The rest, like Golden State’s season, was history.
Stephen Curry pulled out the global celebration after winning his fourth NBA championship
‘The first time I did it was Game 3 in Denver,’ Curry told Nick DePaula of Boardroom.
‘It happened quick, and it was one of those situations where you were back in the playoffs vibe.
‘We had missed it for two years. I was just feeling amped being back on that stage.’
Curry certainly was. Despite shooting three-of-nine from three, he put an end to the Nuggets’ charge, as he had foretold — in his own head.
Curry has always been one of the league’s most expressive and effervescent characters
”Put ’em to sleep. Put ’em to sleep.” ‘That was the conversation I was having with myself. Not with anyone else on the team or anyone else in the arena,’ Curry said.
‘I didn’t say, “night night” at the time. I was just telling myself, “Put ’em to sleep.”
‘Fast forward to Game 5, when I made the last layup to go up five with 19 seconds left.
‘That was the official, “Put them to sleep.” The camera didn’t get me on that one, but I actually said it.’
There is little chance we won’t see the celebration early and often in the upcoming NBA season
Curry would then continue to utilize the celebration after the Warriors waltzed past the Nuggets, anathematizing Memphis and Dallas in the West, before adding Boston to the list in the NBA Finals.
More recently, PSG and Brazil star Neymar and US Women’s National Team’s Alex Morgan have copied the celebration after scoring for their respective teams.
Curry’s iteration of a silencer will be included in the NBA video game NBA2K23 if their trailer is to be believed.
It looks like the celebration, just like Curry and the Warriors, will be going nowhere anytime soon.
Neymar paid homage to Curry after his second goal vs. Montpellier last Saturday evening
