The Golden State Warriors were a moribund franchise before Steph Curry arrived, and turned them into champions. Sunday, Curry proved that his mere presence is enough for the NFL’s worst team to turn things around. At least for one game.
Steph and Ayesha Curry traveled to Allegiant Stadium to watch their beloved Carolina Panthers take on the Las Vegas Raiders. The Panthers were 5.5-point underdogs, hadn’t won a game since December 17th, had lost 17 of their previous 19 games, and benched Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, just that week. But that was before the Baby-Faced Assassin arrived to spread good vibes.
The Panthers followed Curry’s advice and kept pounding. They pounded the Raiders for three first-half touchdowns, and led by as many as 26 points on the way to a 36-22 win. Andy Dalton became the first NFL quarterback of the season to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in one game, while Carolina’s defense had three sacks and an interception.
All this should be no surprise to anyone who has witnessed the Curry Effect. Whether it’s turning a game show about miniature golf into a four-season success, turning an inexperienced broadcaster and journeyman point guard into a Hall of Fame coach, or helping a plucky U.S. Olympic team get past a French squad featuring a four-time Defensive Player of the Year at the Olympics, Curry’s mere presence leads to success. But there were a few particular elements that helped him Sunday.
He helped a redhead to shine
So-called “gingers” might have a hard time in our non-color-blind society, but Steph Curry is committed to helping his red-haired brethren shine. Donte DiVincenzo played one season with Curry, and signed a contract worth $50 million the following summer. Brandin Podziemski led the NBA in charges drawn and made the All-Rookie first team playing with Curry. It’s not a surprise that Nico Mannion had to leave the NBA entirely when he couldn’t play with Curry.
So when Dalton, the “Red Rifle” himself got the start, there was no doubt he was going to shine with Curry in the stands. He’s also 36 years old, a product of a smaller, less-heralded college, and had a lot of success with a guy named Green. Of course he thrived with Curry around.
He inspired an inconsistent Canadian
Chuba Hubbard is a native of Edmonton and one of the few Canadian-born running backs in the NFL. Before Sunday, he had run for 391 yards in two seasons, but Sunday he carried 21 times for 114 yards. Hubbard’s 169 combined yards from scrimmage represented over 18% of his previous career gains.
That’s a lot like Andrew Wiggins, another unhearalded Canadian great who found his greatest career success while playing in the same building as Curry. Let’s just say Jimmy Butler won’t be bullying Hubbard anymore after Sunday.
He stayed loyal to Oakland
Steph Curry loves Oakland. Last year, his foundation invested $50 million in Oakland schools, after providing tens of millions of free meals in the Warriors’ former home since 2019. He spoke last summer about his fervent hopes that the Oakland A’s wouldn’t leave Oakland.
So when his Panthers faced another professional sports team that fled the East Bay for Vegas, the karmic payback was huge. A loss for the Raiders was a win for Oakland. I mean, it’s not like the Warriors would even abandon a city that supported them so well. Never.
His team beat Vegas again
Before the 2014-15 season, Las Vegas odds had the Warriors’ title odds at 28-to-1. Before the 2021-22 season, the Warriors’ over-under was just 48.5 wins. In both cases, the Warriors bucked the odds, won a title, and stuck it to the oddsmakers.
This time. Curry’s Panthers beat Las Vegas again. Also, there was a rumor he won $22.45 playing the Goonies slot machine at the Aria, though those reports are as-yet confirmed.
He knows high draft picks are overrated
Carolina fans might think they’re better off losing game to get a higher draft pick, but he’s seen what happens when a team tanks. You end up with a physically-impressive seven-foot center who speaks Mandarin but can’t catch an entry pass. Or, you get a quarterback who is so short he has to throw off his tiptoes all the time.
Tanking is overrated. Curry knows it, and he inspired the Panthers to actually win a game as a result. You know who really wins titles? Second-round draft picks from Michigan State, undrafted guards who are dating the star player’s sister, and unheralded big men from Georgia — the country, not the state.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, Curry is going to have commitments for the remainder of the fall, so they may only be privy to his magic for that one game. Still, for one special afternoon in September, Carolina was able to tell the Raiders “Night night” at 4 PM.
