Stephen Curry’s First Flagrant Foul
In an unexpected turn of events, Stephen Curry, the celebrated Golden State Warriors star, received his very first flagrant foul during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This incident occurred in the opening quarter, marking a significant milestone in Curry’s 1,190-game NBA journey, as reported by ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Details of the Incident
Typically, such defensive actions are reserved for his teammate Draymond Green, known for his physical style of play. However, this time it was Curry who found himself in the referee’s spotlight on November 11, 2025. The foul occurred as Thunder’s Isaiah Joe attempted a buzzer-beater three-pointer with only 1.3 seconds left in the quarter. As Curry rushed to contest the shot, he extended his left foot into Joe’s landing space, inadvertently creating a situation that resulted in an injury risk for the shooter.
Review and Explanation
Initially ruled a personal foul, the call was later elevated to a flagrant foul following a review. Referee John Goble explained the reasoning behind the decision:
“Curry closes out from a distance with an extended leg. Joe lands on Curry’s foot, creating a potential for injury due to the contact. Therefore the foul has been upgraded to a flagrant foul, penalty 1.”
Consequently, Joe was awarded three free throws, which helped the Thunder increase their lead to 34-25 by the quarter’s end.
Curry’s Reaction and Comparison
Despite the peculiar circumstances, Curry’s reaction displayed disbelief as he absorbed the explanation while seated on the bench. By the standards set within the NBA for reckless closeouts, Curry’s involvement met the criteria for the flagrant designation, regardless of how uncharacteristic it appeared for a player known more for his scoring prowess than physical fouls.
With this foul now added to his record, Curry still has a long way to go to catch up with Draymond Green, who has accumulated 27 flagrant fouls across his career, split between 19 regular-season and eight postseason infractions.
