When Stephen Curry found himself shaking his head and later laughing on Thursday night, it wasn’t because he’d nailed a deep three.
It was because his former locker-room neighbour, Ryan Rollins,took it to his old team for a career-high 32 points in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 120-110 win over the Golden State Warriors at the Fiserv Forum. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Rollins seized the spotlight, demonstrating that he could thrive even without the league’s reigning superstar.
Rollins, who was part of the trade package that shipped Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards-eventually leading Golden State to acquire Chris Paul in 2023-made the most of this opportunity to face the team that had once let him go.
The 23-year-old guard was unstoppable, hitting 13 of 21 shots, including five of seven from beyond the arc, along with eight assists and three rebounds.
But his impact extended far beyond scoring. Rollins applied relentless pressure on Curry throughout the night, forcing two turnovers directly under his watch. Curry himself finished with 27 points on 8-of-19 shooting, visibly frustrated by Rollins’ speed and defensive acumen.
Former locker-room neighbour turns rival
The personal stakes made the matchup even more compelling. Rollins spent his rookie season sitting beside Curry in the Warriors’ locker room, learning from the four-time NBA champion.
“That’s my guy, man… He was my locker neighbour my first year,” Rollins said after the game. “Him being Steph Curry, just being so humble… that was very humbling for me.”
From casual rookie conversations to a high-profile showdown, the journey made the game feel almost poetic. Following the win, Rollins received a signed Curry jersey, which he plans to frame – a tangible reminder of the night he both honored and outplayed his mentor.
However, the competitive fire between the two teams intensified in the fourth quarter. Rollins collided with Curry while defending a drive, prompting Draymond Green to retaliate with a hard foul on the very next possession.
“I kind of liked it… it just turns me up a little bit more,” Rollins admitted. He channeled that energy into a dominant final period, scoring 13 points and effectively ending the Warriors’ hopes for a comeback.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr praised Rollins’ performance, saying, “His speed gave us a lot of trouble… He got past us-penetration, either scored at the rim or kicked it to shooters. He was fantastic tonight.” For the Warriors, the game highlighted the ongoing challenges of finding consistency beyond Curry in the backcourt.
Meanwhile, the Bucks demonstrated that they can compete at a high level even without their superstar, with Rollins emerging as a breakout figure in the process.
What began as a sentimental reunion quickly transformed into a revenge game that neither player will forget. For Curry, there was a mix of amusement and frustration, along with a gesture of goodwill in the form of a signed jersey. For Rollins, there was validation, a career night, and a statement to the NBA: Golden State may have let him go too soon.
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