Stephen Curry was recently honored with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the 2026 ESPYs. But that may not have been the most surprising thing he saw that night.
Oz Pearlman, who is famously called ‘Oz the Mentalist,’ was also in attendance at the ESPYs. He met Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, on the red carpet and made them the subject of a bizarre magic trick.
First, he made the Currys hold each other’s right hands while Ayesha Curry kept her eyes closed. Then, Pearlman proceeded to scratch Stephen Curry on his nose and chin, while Ayesha Curry could correctly identify, as though she could feel the scratches herself.
“What did I just do to you?” asked Pearlman as he swiped Stephen Curry’s nose.
“You swiped my nose… Yes, 100%,” Ayesha Curry responded while her eyes remained closed, and Stephen Curry and the rest of the audience were shocked.
“My theory is that Steph, whatever I do to you, it goes all the way over to her,” said Pearlman as he scratched Stephen Curry’s beard and asked Ayesha Curry if she felt anything.
“You touched my chin, 100%,” said Ayesha Curry as Stephen Curry broke out into laughter with sheer disbelief.
“You didn’t?” Ayesha Curry asked. “No,” Stephen Curry responded as his wife almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I touched his nose, I tickled his beard,” Pearlman clarified.
“That’s like really creepy. Are you guys lying? Is everybody?” a stunned Ayesha Curry replied as she looked at the people around her in shock.
“How about that? That was crazy!” Stephen Curry said near the end of the video.
The incredible achievement showed Pearlman’s trademark fusion of psychology, mentalism, and showmanship. It gave the impression that the couple had a unique sensory connection beyond their 18-year physical relationship, which includes their 15 years of marriage.
Oz Pearlman is well-known for creating mind-blowing illusions for athletes, celebrities, and TV viewers. His seemingly impossible feats frequently leave onlookers wondering how he does it.
His performance with the Currys delighted fans and sparked discussions about the intriguing realm of contemporary mentalism and illusion, adding yet another noteworthy moment to that expanding list.
Stephen Curry And Ayesha Curry’s Work Gets The Recognition It Deserves
The Currys were attending the event to receive the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for their work with Eat. Learn. Play Foundation. It is a non-profit organization that Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry created together to help young kids in Oakland, California.
The Warriors star went on stage only to receive the award that recognizes the couple’s work with the organization. He spoke at length about the real takeaway of this award in the acceptance speech.
“Good evening, everybody. I just want to say this is truly an incredible honor. I want to thank ESPN, the ESPYs, and the Ali family for recognizing my amazing wife and me with this award.”
“When you hear Muhammad Ali’s name, I know you think about greatness. And what has inspired all of us in this room is not just what he did in the ring, but his willingness to use his voice, his presence, his platform to stand for something bigger than himself.”
“And this award, being connected to his legacy, is incredibly humbling. But I’m standing here knowing that this recognition is not really about me. It’s about what happens when a community shows up for its kids.”
“And Oakland is our adopted hometown, where I spent the first 10 years with the Warriors, where we won our first three championships, and where Ayesha and I grew up as adults in so many ways.”
“This city, it wrapped its arms around us from the very beginning. And this is how we continue to give back. And when you invest in a child, you’re investing in everything possible for their future.”
“And we want to be able to make sure that every kid has the help it needs to thrive and to have the best childhood possible. And that’s priceless.”
“Though we’ve committed a lot of money to getting it done, we know that there’s a lot more work to do because what we’re building and opening was never meant to just stay there.”
“I think our dream is to continue to create a model that can be replicated in communities all across this country. And reminding ourselves that none of this happens alone. And it takes a village of teachers, principals, families, community partners, volunteers, and everybody who believes that our kids are worth the very best.”
“And so to everybody in this room, don’t ever forget that you have a platform, you have a voice, you have everything that you need to make a true impact. And I encourage you to find your Oakland, find what makes you different, and where you can have that impact.”
“And we all know what it means to have a team around us. And this is the team that I’m most proud to be a part of. So, thank you so much to my entire Eat, Learn, Play Foundation team, our supporters, most importantly, the city of Oakland, and the kids that we get to serve.”
“They inspire us every single day, and they are our reason why. So, thank y’all so much for this honor. Thank you,”concluded Stephen Curry.
The Warriors star Stephen Curry continues to drive his legacy beyond the court. His wife, Ayesha Curry, is also aligned with the vision of giving back to the community that put them on the platform on which they stand today.