In a league built on highlights and scoring titles, it’s often the hidden sacrifices and moments of introspection that reveal a player’s true greatness. For Stephen Curry, the face of the Golden State Warriors dynasty and a transformative figure in the modern NBA, his final act of leadership didn’t involve a buzzer-beater or a gravity-defying three-pointer. It was captured in ink and paper.
After suffering a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, Curry was ruled out for Games 2 and 3. The news resonated in the Warriors locker room and throughout the league. With Golden State facing a tough opponent and Curry serving as the team’s offensive and emotional engine, the setback was more than physical. But instead of retreating into silence or frustration, Curry turned to something deeply personal: letter writing.
He wrote two. One to his coach, Steve Kerr. Another to Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat star and an unexpected recipient. Both letters were heartfelt, emotional, and deceptively similar in tone. But their true power emerged only when Kerr and Butler compared notes and realized how different the messages really were.
The Letter to Kerr: A Leader’s Pain
Steve Kerr, a former player accustomed to the pressure of the postseason, opened his letter expecting a typical update: a note from the captain promising support from the sidelines. What he received was something much more profound.
Curry’s letter to Kerr was laced with anguish. He confessed the frustration of knowing his body had betrayed him at a crucial moment. He detailed his guilt over having let his teammates down, not by choice, but by circumstance. Yet woven into the pain was something else: an unwavering faith.
“I’ve always trusted you to guide us,” Curry wrote. “Now I need you to trust me when I say: let the others shine. I’ll be back. But for now, Klay, Draymond, Wiggs… they’ve got it covered.”
Kerr would later describe the letter as one of the smartest gestures he’d ever seen from a player. It wasn’t just a message of faith in the team; it was an expression of vulnerability and self-awareness. Curry wasn’t just stepping aside; he was encouraging others to step forward.
The Letter to Jimmy: Brotherhood and Perspective
Jimmy Butler, never known for his sentimentality, was surprised to receive a letter from Curry. Although their paths rarely crossed in important playoff duels, there was always a mutual respect. What Curry wrote revealed that this respect ran much deeper than Butler realized.
“I’ve watched you lead your team,” Curry wrote. “You play through pain, doubt, and exhaustion. You remind me what it means to lead. I’m learning from you now.”
Then he made a shocking admission: “This injury humbles me. I can’t be on the court, but I can still be there. You’ve shown me that.”
For Butler, Curry’s message wasn’t just a compliment, but a sense of brotherhood. Both had carried franchises. Both had suffered setbacks in the worst of times. And both knew that leadership didn’t always mean stepping into the shoes. Sometimes, it meant being there even when you couldn’t play.
Two letters, one legacy
At first, both Kerr and Butler assumed Curry had written a single template of encouraging letters and sent copies to the people he respected most. But once they spoke and shared their letters, the reality stunned them.
