Stephen Curry, now one of the most iconic names in basketball, owes much of his off-court success to an unlikely partnership with Under Armour, a brand not traditionally associated with elite basketball. However, this story could have been very different if Nike hadn’t made a series of errors during the negotiation to keep Curry under their wing.

During his college years at Davidson College, Curry began to show signs of his future stardom, and Nike signed him to a contract that supported him in his early NBA years. However, when it came time to renegotiate in 2013, things took a turn for the worse. In a critical meeting between Nike and Curry, the company made several blunders, starting with a significant slip: repeatedly calling Curry "Stephon" instead of "Stephen," which caused discomfort for both the player and his father, Dell Curry.

The tone of the meeting indicated that Nike did not view Curry on the same level as other top stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Kevin Durant. A mistake in a presentation slide, where Durant’s name appeared instead of Curry’s, was the final straw. This series of missteps convinced Curry and his father that Nike did not value him enough.

Enter Under Armour, offering a contract worth $4 million annually, double what Nike had proposed. Despite having the right to match the offer, Nike chose not to. Under Armour took the risk, and it paid off beyond their expectations. Since then, Curry has elevated the brand to new heights, helping it double in value to $28 billion after his signing.

Today, Curry’s shoes are the second-best-selling in the U.S., only behind the legendary Air Jordans. Nike’s failure to retain Curry not only cost them a contract but potentially stands as one of the biggest marketing blunders in sports history. What could have been a lucrative partnership for Nike became one of the most advantageous deals for Under Armour, solidifying Stephen Curry as one of the world’s most influential athletes.