In the heart of San Francisco’s Chase Center, during the Golden State Warriors’ open practice this week, Steph Curry unleashed a prank so brutally funny it left everyone in stitches.
Curry, the NBA’s king of on-court wizardry, proved he’s equally lethal off it when targeting his close buddy, Gary Payton II.
The setup was pure genius: Curry rang up the 32-year-old Payton, casually mentioning a fan dying for his autograph. No fib there — except what came next. As Payton sauntered courtside, all smiles and Sharpie in hand, the “fan” (Curry’s secret accomplice) greeted him with a defiant middle finger.
Steph made this fan pretend to ask Gary Payton II for an autograph just to flip him off 💀
(via josephbangalan / IG, h/t @TheWarriorsTalk)pic.twitter.com/2rtTTyZKqF
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 11, 2025
The sheer audacity!
Payton’s face? Priceless confusion morphing into explosive laughter as he clocked the setup. Curry, barely containing his glee, popped out for the reveal, having a triumphant photo with his victim-turned-co-conspirator snapped. To top it off, the fan got a signed shoe and jersey as a cheeky consolation prize.
What made this absolutely hilarious? The contrast — beloved GPII, a 2022 champion and Bay Area darling, getting trolled in front of adoring fans. Chances of a real fan flipping him off? Slim to none. Yet Curry pulled it off flawlessly, turning brotherly ribbing into viral gold.
Their bond shines through: Curry lobbied hard for Payton’s offseason return, declaring Dub Nation incomplete without him. Without GPII, who’d endure Curry’s pranks? This savage stunt wasn’t just brutal; it was a reminder of the Warriors’ unbreakable spirit — fierce on the floor, foolishly fun off it.