Stephen Curry on His Style and NBA Tunnel Walk Philosophy

Stephen Curry never expected to be a style star when starting his career in the NBA, but that's exactly what he's become. On the court, he's a beast. Off the court, he's a muse for many, whether he's wearing a Denim Tears jacket and jeans or a tailored look. His tunnel walks have also become a point of focus.

“In 2009, when I first walked into an NBA game, there was literally only one person with a camera, and I think they worked for our team,” Curry tells L'OFFICIEL, remembering his earlier days and what tunnel walks were like before. “Then, fast forward to now, where arenas are putting stage lighting in the tunnels, and there's professional photography everywhere, slow motion videos, kick cams... the whole thing.” 

Over the past few years, more eyes have turned from the basketball court to players' walk towards it, conceiving the modern tunnel walk phenomenon. When players walk from the locker room to the court, it's like a runway show. This holds for the NBA superstar, who is celebrated as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time and has now emerged as a fashion icon, thanks to the rising popularity of tunnel walks and his own style. 

Curry says he never imagined that being a professional basketball player would also mean becoming a fashion connoisseur, yet he has found himself in a position where his young fans imitate his style choices off-court. But, it all makes sense to him: "The idea of look good, feel good, play good, to me, is real," he says. "Most of the time, you want to put on a fit that you feel good in and walk with your shoulders and chest out, and have a little swag about you that hopefully will lead to good energy on the court, right?”

Through time and with the help of celebrity stylist Jason Bolden, Curry said he has found his own personal style. It could be intimidating at first, especially with the millions of eyes on him, but Curry has figured out how to wear clothes aligned with his brand and identity. Plus, he realized he could use his platform to uplift others, which is why he's focused on highlighting emerging designers of color through his looks.

"I've been able to leverage my platform for good and be intentional about how we do it," Curry explains. "It could be any type of gesture or investment in the underserved that can make a huge difference. And so for this, this speaks to that in a small way." 

This is why the athlete partnered with shopping rewards destination Rakuten. Now, fans can shop the same tunnel walk outfits Curry wears, styled by Bolden, via a curated shoppable hub, highlighting items from his wardrobe, with a focus on Black and brown designers. With his partnership with Rakuten, Curry emphasizes his eagerness to use his tunnel walks as a chance to highlight those like Haitian designer Des Pierrot.

“I think the biggest way is just driving awareness towards not just the brands, but the actual designers themselves and their stories, that's been the coolest part,” he says. Curry notes he recognizes how hard it can be to break through in the fashion industry, and applauds designers who take a chance on themselves.