Stephen Curry revolutionized three-point shooting. Kids nationwide copy him and try to master his shooting range. It has been a thing for years. When a 12-year-old boy in Minnesota stepped to the arc at his school gymnasium, launched a shot from well beyond the three-point line, watched it go through the net, and burst out on a ‘night-night’ celebratory run, that moment immediately went viral. And just look who’s taken notice!

“Hey Wyatt, just want to say that was really, really special and inspiring what you did, showing out in front of your whole school,” Curry said. “Unbelievable shot, unbelievable celebration, and even better jersey. Great job, Wyatt. See you soon.”

Wyatt Neus, a 12-year-old with Down syndrome, sank the viral shot during a student-teacher basketball game in Plymouth. And through the noise of the internet, the moment still reached Curry, who didn’t hesitate to whip out his phone and record a special message. But the surprise didn’t end there…

With the help of ABC7 Sports anchor Chris Alvarez, who arranged a virtual call with the Neus family, Curry sent Wyatt a personal video message that was broadcast nationwide, along with an invitation to a Golden State Warriors game next season.

“It was a great shot,” Wyatt’s mother, Brooke, asserted. “He’s a great basketball player, but that was a big shot for him. But really, it was the students and staff, the community that it was with. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

His father, Eric, added, “Maybe Brooke and I aren’t that surprised that he made a shot. But I think it was one of one.”

Then, Brooke also circled back to what Curry’s response meant to a family that expected none of this.

“For Steph to take the time out of his day and to look at that, I never thought it would become anything like this,” Wyatt’s mom said. “We thought it was a cool video. Hard to believe that we could maybe lighten other people’s hearts, but this has taken a new life of its own, and we’re so lucky.”

Through their Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, Curry and his wife Ayesha host multiple charity events for youth in Oakland. From surprise meet-ups to distributing gear and meals to renovating schoolyards and providing meals, Curry has always encouraged charity and taking care of his young fans.

Wyatt’s shot resonated because it echoed Curry’s range. Curry has led the Warriors to four NBA championships and, in the process, redefined what long-range shooting meant in basketball. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, and the concept of “Curry range,” the territory several feet behind the arc from which he routinely launches and converts, has become a cultural note for anyone who attempts the shot.

Curry has also built his ‘class act’ reputation beyond the court by being open to spending time with his fans. Three years ago, the Warriors legend came across an eight-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who was inspired by hooping. Beeri Avrutsky was at the Dubs practice facility, hoping to meet his idol. His mother revealed that Beeri struggled to walk until the age of five, but fell in love with the sport and wanted to play it. He even joined the Warriors Basketball Academy.

“He’s a fighter,” Curry told the young boy who couldn’t stop smiling. “He’s strong. Look at that smile. I see it. Keep doing what you’re doing, okay?”

Coming back to the 38-year-old veteran’s reality after an injury-curtailed season that culminated in a play-in tournament exit, Curry is already focusing on the next season.

Curry’s Warriors Future Is Being Written, and He Wants More Chapters

Stephen Curry has been clear about how much runway he intends to have left. He has reportedly made it clear that he wants to play at least 20 seasons in the NBA, which would mean two more years. His knee injury that curtailed the second half of the 2025-26 season is not expected to require surgery, and sources close to the situation indicate he shouldn’t have physical limitations entering training camp in September. The body, for now, is cooperating with the ambition.

The business side is moving in the same direction. The Warriors are confident, regardless of how their offseason retooling plays out, that they will strike a contract extension deal that sets Curry up to retire in Golden State. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Golden State can offer a two-year extension worth nearly $140 million, with Curry currently set to earn $62.5 million in 2026-27 before hitting unrestricted free agency.

“We’ve always stated that we want Steph to finish his career here, be here as long as he wants,” GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. said of the franchise’s position. “I don’t see under any scenario where we don’t want to figure out a way to have him finish here.”

The numbers make the case, as Golden State went 24-19 with Curry available this season and 13-26 without him. 

A 12-year-old in Minnesota drained a deep one, and a legend took time out to say well done. It is a small story in the making of a Hall of Fame career, but it is also, in its own way, a perfect summary of what Curry’s legacy beyond the scoresheet looks like. He will be retiring as a Warrior. It’s just a matter of when, and if the reports are right, there are still a few more seasons of “Curry range” shots left. And in gyms across the country, a generation of kids will keep launching them in honor of the man who revolutionized the game.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​