It finally happened. After six years of waiting, Steph Curry gave the world one last glimpse of "Sky-Fucker" playing above the rim, only to immediately shut the door on it forever. Following a high-stakes matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, the greatest shooter in history confirmed what many fans feared but secretly expected.
Steph Curry retires from dunking officially, marking the end of an era for the rare, "did-that-just-happen" highlights that usually sent the Warriors bench into a literal frenzy.
Look, we all know Steph isn't Vince Carter. He’s 6’2” on a good day and his ankles have more miles on them than a 1998 Corolla. But there was always something magical about those breakaway moments where he’d look around, see nobody within ten feet, and decide to test the gravity of the arena.
During the game against the 76ers, Curry leaked out on a fast break in the fourth quarter. Usually, he’d go for the high-glass layup or the circus finish. Instead, he rose up for a one-handed rim-grazer. It wasn’t a windmill. It wasn’t a poster. But it was a dunk. And according to the man himself, it was the last one you’ll ever see.
What Really Happened With the Final Dunk
The moment occurred on March 1, 2025, but the ripples are still being felt across the league as we move through 2026. Curry, who turns 38 soon, told reporters after the 126-119 loss to Philly that he’s calling it quits on the aerial game.
"I'm calling it right now," Curry said, clutching a towel in the post-game presser. "That was the last one you're going to see. For sure, I will only lay the ball up. It took everything out of me to get up there."
It sounds like a joke, but he was dead serious. He even pointed toward assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse on the bench right after the slam. Apparently, Stackhouse—a legendary dunker himself—had been teasing Steph all morning during shootaround, telling him he didn't have the "bounce" anymore. Steph proved him wrong, but the cost was high.
His knees have been a talking point all season. Dealing with lingering soreness and the general wear and tear of a nearly 20-year career, the 4-time champion is prioritizing longevity over showmanship. Honestly, can you blame him? When you can hit from the logo with your eyes closed, why bother risking a meniscus on a 2-point play?
The Six-Year Wait
To understand why this matters, you have to look at the gap. Before this 76ers game, Curry hadn't recorded an in-game dunk since February 21, 2019. That’s over 2,200 days. To put that in perspective:
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- Kevin Durant was still his teammate when he last dunked.
- The Warriors were still playing at Oracle Arena.
- The "new" Chase Center has actually never seen an in-game Steph Curry dunk until this recent road trip.
The 2019 dunk was a back-cut off a pass from KD. It feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, Curry has revolutionized the game, won another ring, and broken every shooting record known to man. But he hasn't been back above the rim.
Why Steph Curry Retires From Dunking Now
It isn't just about age. It’s about the "Trade™" and the new-look Warriors. With the acquisition of Jimmy Butler, the team's dynamic has shifted. Butler has taken over a lot of the heavy lifting and primary playmaking, allowing Steph to work off-ball more than ever.
While his scoring average has actually jumped to 30.4 points per game since Butler arrived, the physical toll of being a "slasher" doesn't fit the current championship window. The Warriors are currently sitting in the thick of a Western Conference playoff race. They need Steph on the floor, not in the training room.
The Jerry Stackhouse Factor
The interaction with Stackhouse is basically the peak of "Vibes" Golden State. Steph mentioned that Stack had been chirping at him all year.
"Stackhouse said this morning he wanted to see me dunk. That hasn’t happened in years, and tonight it did. Hilarious," Curry noted with a grin.
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But behind the laughter is a stark reality: the risk-reward ratio for a 37-year-old guard dunking in traffic is terrible. NBA analytics experts often point out that a Curry layup is statistically one of the most efficient shots in basketball history. A dunk? It’s a vanity metric for a guy who has nothing left to prove.
The Impact on His Legacy
Some people think "retiring from dunking" is a bit dramatic. It’s not like he’s retiring from the league. But for Steph, everything is intentional. By publicly stating he's done, he removes the pressure to perform for the fans on breakaways.
The fans at Wells Fargo Center erupted when he threw it down. It was a "Where were you?" moment for Warriors Twitter. But from here on out, we’re going to see the mastery of the finger roll and the "jelly" layup.
If you look at the stats, Curry has 27 career regular-season dunks. That’s it. In a career spanning nearly two decades, he’s spent less than 30 total seconds in the air. His game is built on the floor—the handles, the relocation, the lightning-fast release.
What This Means for the Warriors in 2026
The Golden State Warriors are currently 20-18. They’re fighting. The Western Conference is a meat grinder. With Jonathan Kuminga demanding more minutes and the Butler-Curry duo finding its rhythm, the "Dunk Retirement" is actually a sign of a focused veteran.
He’s preserving his legs for the fourth quarter. He’s preserving his ankles for the deep playoff run. If 100 layups keep him healthy for one more Game 7, then every fan in the Bay Area should be happy he’s keeping his sneakers on the hardwood.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a fan of the Chef, here's how to adjust your expectations for the rest of the 2026 season:
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- Watch the Warmups: If you want to see Steph dunk, get to the arena early. He still does it in the pre-game "tunnel" routine occasionally, but the in-game slams are officially a relic of the past.
- Study the Layup Package: Pay attention to how he uses his body to shield defenders now. Since he’s not going "over" anyone, his use of angles and English on the ball is becoming even more elite.
- Appreciate the Longevity: We are watching the sunset of a GOAT career. Don't get caught up in what he can't do anymore. Focus on the fact that he's still dropping 30-pieces at 37 years old.
The 76ers game was a bittersweet farewell to a part of Steph’s game that was always a "glitch in the system." It wasn't his bread and butter, but it was the seasoning. Now, the Chef is sticking to what he does best: cooking teams from 35 feet out.