The headline moment of All-Star Weekend didn’t come from a dunk, a logo three, or the league’s new tournament format. It came when Stephen Curry stepped onto the floor wearing Klay Thompson’s signature shoes.
Silver, sparkling KT 11s, customized to celebrate the four championships they won together. Title years etched into the design. A nod to Klay scoring 37 points in a quarter, still the all-time record, stamped on the back. A tribute shining under arena lights before a single shot went up. And the timing made it even more meaningful. Just days earlier, Thompson had signed a lifetime deal with ANTA, one of the rarest honors in basketball sneaker history. Curry didn’t just congratulate his former teammate privately. He showed up on the biggest stage of the weekend wearing Klay’s shoes.
For a player as brand-aligned as Curry, whose Under Armour partnership helped build an entire signature empire, switching shoes, even briefly, isn’t something that happens without some thought. This wasn’t a sponsorship obligation or rollout strategy. It was Curry giving flowers in real time.
And it doubled as a homecoming moment. The game took place in Los Angeles, where Klay grew up and first built his basketball identity before becoming a Warrior and eventually a four-time champion. So while Thompson may not have been on the floor as an All-Star, his presence still found its way onto the court through the teammate who shared every major chapter of that journey.
Klay’s lifetime deal itself tells the story of a career built differently. Back in 2015, while most stars chased Nike or Adidas contracts, Thompson partnered with ANTA and quietly built one of the most successful basketball brands in Asia. Over twelve years, he’s sold more than ten million pairs across eleven signature models, turning “China Klay” from internet joke into genuine cultural icon through tours, clinics, and real connection with fans.
Lifetime sneaker contracts are reserved for a tiny circle: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Damian Lillard. Now Klay Thompson joins that list, proof his global impact goes far beyond whatever his current box scores read in Dallas. They built a dynasty together, taking four rings and inspiring an entire generation along the way.
The Splash Brothers redefined basketball’s geometry. And in the middle of All-Star Weekend, Curry let Klay’s shoes shine. A quiet thank-you from one legend to another, proof that some bonds don’t fade when teammates go separate ways.