Many close friends have faced off in the NBA Playoffs, but what happens when brothers are forced to battle for the championship? Sonya Curry didn’t have to wonder in 2019 when the Golden State Warriors clashed with the Portland Trail Blazers in the Conference Finals. It was Stephen Curry’s team versus his younger brother Seth’s. Reflecting on that experience, Sonya later admitted it wasn’t easy. Her perspective gave her newfound appreciation for Donna Kelce, who found herself in a similar situation when her sons, Travis and Jason Kelce, faced off in the Super Bowl.

While carrying the official title of Super Bowl LVII, the 2023 NFL Finals were also dubbed the ‘Kelce Bowl’, as it marked the first and only time that brothers and NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce competed against each other at this ultimate stage. Discussing the same in a September 2023 episode of ‘Got it from my Momma’, Sonya revealed that she respected the way the Kelce Brothers’ mother handled having to see both her sons compete for the ultimate title. At the same time, she believed that both Travis and Jason made the situation better for her by not considering the Super Bowl as the platform of the ultimate showdown, but rather a celebration that they both got there at the same time.

“They (Travis and Jason) were like ‘Let’s just make this an event, we are gonna celebrate our mom together’, and they joked about it,” said Sonya. “And so, again you can just tell the relationship that she has with them is awesome, because the respect they have for her, and just the love of wanting her to be a part of that whole event, just, I mean, that bought me to tears too. I was like, ‘She handled that way better than I did.’”

Sonya Curry wouldn’t go into too much detail about what transpired during the 2019 NBA Finals for her, until quite recently. During an episode of Raising Fame, a podcast she co-hosted with Shaquille O’Neal’s mother Lucille, she touched base on the Conference Finals series and revealed, “It was absolutely horrible. I mean and people have asked us afterwards like when I’d respond, don’t get me wrong, it was such a blessing to have my children on that stage and them competing. And I know it was fun for them as siblings. As parents, when that buzzer went off, and that series was over, I literally boohooed and cried from stress… I could not 100% cheer for one team.”

Sonya wasn’t entirely in the wrong to be worried. After having spent over half a year playing in the regular season, establishing a win-record to get a suitable seed, and then go through two other playoff rounds, the only thing that stands between the Finals series is the Conference Finals. For Stephen Curry, winning the championship would have allowed him to boast of securing his very own three-peat feat. For Seth, it was the rare chance to clinch even a championship title. No one was willing to back down. In the end, however, it didn’t end up mattering. Even after the Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 4-0, they lost in the Finals to the Toronto Raptors.

Donna Kelce made the best of what the situation offered to her. From bringing her renowned cookies to both her children during the Super Bowl Opening Night to comforting Jason Kelce after the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, she didn’t show signs of any discomfort in reaching her. After all, no matter what, the NFL trophy was ultimately going to come to her home only.

“Obviously, there’s going to be somebody that’s going to go home heartbroken. They won’t have the bragging rights at the Thanksgiving table, but this is going to be an awesome event and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Donna during a CNN interview back in February 2023. To her credit, Sonya didn’t develop too much confusion or emotions more than what she highlighted. Fortunately, to show that both her sons mean the world to her, she involved her then-husband and came up with a brilliant plan.

“Who You With?” – Even after a coin toss, Stephen Curry was baffled by Sonya’s decision

Before the 2019 Western Conference Finals, Steph and Seth’s sister Sydel shared a video on social media showing a coin toss to decide which parent—Dell or Sonya—would wear which brother’s jersey. After winning a round of rock-paper-scissors, Sonya let the coin decide, and it landed on the Portland Trail Blazers. Later, Dell and Sonya arrived at the arena, with Dell in Stephen’s #30 Warriors jersey and Sonya in Seth’s #31 Blazers jersey. Despite this, Stephen still felt his parents weren’t sure who to fully support.

“They can’t help themselves. So, anytime either one of us did something good, they both were clapping, so they gotta fix themselves,” the Warriors star said during the post-game presser, igniting a few laughs from the reporters. “I told my mom like ‘Who you with?’ When I made a shot, I saw her stand up and cheer, but I saw all Portland gear, and it’s just … It’s just weird.”

With Seth Curry now with the Charlotte Hornets, he and Stephen won’t face each other in the playoffs again unless it’s in the Finals. In that case, Sonya might want to take a cue from Donna Kelce and prepare herself more thoroughly for the experience.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.