It was Stephen Curry’s night at Crypto.com Arena on April 3, 2025—and not just because he lit up the scoreboard with 37 points. As the Golden State Warriors held off a late surge from the Los Angeles Lakers to secure a massive 123-116 win, Curry dropped a gem in the postgame interview that had fans grinning ear to ear. When asked how he pulled off one of the wildest circus shots of the season, flipping the ball over his head while flying out of bounds, Steph didn’t give credit to hours of practice or elite balance. Instead, he smiled and said, “My mom always used to say I was like the clumsiest kid, so I’m good when I’m off balance.”

Just like that, Sonya Curry was back in the spotlight—because of course she is. The matriarch of the Curry family has always been more than just a courtside presence. Her parenting style—letting her kids struggle, solve problems, and build resilience—laid the foundation for Steph’s otherworldly ability to keep calm and create magic under pressure. And now, it’s helping him win games against playoff rivals. Who knew being a clumsy kid could lead to Hall of Fame moments?

Steph wasn’t alone in the spotlight. Jimmy Butler poured in 27 points, including some clutch buckets late, while Draymond Green turned in a vintage triple-double with 13 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. But let’s not pretend we weren’t all watching in disbelief when Curry twisted through defenders in the third quarter, drew contact, tumbled sideways, and somehow… banked it in. You don’t teach that. You survive your childhood tripping over furniture, and you emerge with elite core control.

This was more than a win—it was a statement. The Warriors, now 45-31, are just one game behind the 46-30 Lakers in the Western Conference standings. That’s right: after dropping three of the four matchups against L.A. this season, the Warriors picked the best possible moment to strike. And what a moment it was.

Playoff race heating up

The Lakers are trying to hold on to the 4th seed, but it hasn’t been easy. They’ve lost five games since March 20, and their once-comfortable lead over the surging Warriors is now paper-thin. Luka Doncic, who added 20 points, continues to adapt to the L.A. system, while LeBron James is still putting up monster nights—33 points in this one—but even that wasn’t enough.

Meanwhile, Golden State has gone an eye-popping 20-4 since acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami. It’s no longer just Steph dragging this team forward. They’ve got depth, swagger, and a shot at bypassing the play-in tournament entirely if they keep this momentum. And with the Lakers’ remaining strength of schedule sitting at .589 compared to the Warriors’ .538, this race could tilt in Golden State’s favor fast.

But beyond the playoff math and box scores, it’s the heartwarming Curry moment that everyone’s talking about. Sonya Curry’s low-intervention parenting—letting her kids fall, learn, and grow—has become folklore in NBA circles. Whether it was choosing the right coaches for Steph or accepting a sweat-soaked jersey after a 56-point game with a laugh, her fingerprints are all over his greatness.

So, when Steph laughed about being the “clumsiest kid,” he wasn’t being humble—he was being real. It’s not just about being off balance physically. It’s about being centered emotionally, especially in chaos. And in the thick of a heated playoff race, that’s a superpower no stat sheet can capture.

The Warriors took a major step toward playoff positioning with their latest win, but the real MVP moment came after the buzzer. With one sweet shoutout to his mom, Stephen Curry reminded us why we love sports in the first place: the joy, the family, and those little childhood quirks that turn into legends on the court.