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Steph Curry has shared his reaction to Dillon Brooks’ shot late in the Warriors’ loss.
Christmas Day has long been one of the NBA’s biggest stages. For Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, it has also been one of the more unusual chapters of his career.
“I don’t have a favorite,” Curry said when asked about his Christmas Day memories. “I have traditionally not played great on Christmas Day.”
It was an unusually blunt admission from one of the league’s most consistent superstars, especially given how dominant Curry has been in nearly every other setting across his career.
The comment was not rooted in superstition or frustration. It was simply context. Curry acknowledged the pattern without dwelling on it, framing the day less as a personal measuring stick and more as part of the larger rhythm of the season.
Why Christmas Day Has Been Different for the Warriors Guard
GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 18, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Curry’s struggles on Christmas are well documented. Through the early portion of his career, his shooting numbers on the holiday lagged behind his usual standards, a surprising contrast for one of the most efficient scorers the league has ever seen.
Part of that comes down to circumstance rather than performance anxiety.
Christmas matchups are rarely soft. The NBA reserves the day for marquee games, often pitting contenders and rivals against one another. For Curry, that has frequently meant facing elite defenses and familiar opponents, including multiple high-profile meetings with Los Angeles Lakers teams led by LeBron James.
Those games are intense, physical, and heavily scouted. They rarely allow for rhythm.
A Reminder That the Stage Still Matters
Despite his uneven history, Curry does not dismiss what Christmas Day represents.
He views the invitation itself as meaningful. Playing on December 25 is a signal that the league believes you matter, that your team belongs in the conversation before the season reaches its midpoint.
“It’s a blessing because you understand being one of the 10 teams that play means you’re marketable,” Curry said via ESPN. “The experience of playing in the game is fun.”
That perspective has stayed consistent even when the box score has not reflected his usual dominance.
And the numbers have not been universally bleak. Last season offered a reminder that the narrative is not fixed. Curry scored 38 points and handed out six assists in a narrow loss to the Lakers, showing that even on a day that has been inconsistent for him, his ceiling remains unchanged.
What This Christmas Could Represent for the Warriors
This year’s matchup arrives with different stakes.
Golden State enters the holiday looking for momentum rather than validation. Their opponent, the Dallas Mavericks, has struggled to find consistency, giving the Warriors a chance to stack wins and stabilize their season.
For Curry, the game is less about rewriting history and more about continuing forward.
Christmas has never defined him. It has simply been one of many stages along a career built on longevity, adaptability, and perspective.
And if the past is any indication, Curry will approach the moment the same way he always has: aware of the noise, respectful of the stage, and focused on what comes next rather than what came before.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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