--- title: NBA Finals 2017: Steph Curry's Game 1 High Kicks Become Meme description: Steph Curry's celebratory high kicks after shooting a magnificent 3-pointer are inspiring memes across the Internet. canonical: https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-06-02T16:05:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:44:08.845Z og:title: The Internet Is Losing It Over Steph Curry's High Kicks og:description: You've never seen a victory dance like this before og:url: https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta742e42b545fdf3f/6988cfe9ab6d7713496ae5e3/steph-curry-high-kick-celebration-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: 2017 NBA Finals - Game One og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Internet Is Losing It Over Steph Curry's High Kicks twitter:description: You've never seen a victory dance like this before twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta742e42b545fdf3f/6988cfe9ab6d7713496ae5e3/steph-curry-high-kick-celebration-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Internet Is Losing It Over the Latest Athlete Meme: Steph Curry's Celebratory High Kicks > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=12a1c9bc-184d-4b5d-a174-820b717ce418&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 540,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 45.6% | TIME, August 2026 | | Click rate | 3.3% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services. ### TIME The Brief: key statements * The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=12a1c9bc-184d-4b5d-a174-820b717ce418&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=12a1c9bc-184d-4b5d-a174-820b717ce418&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's daily news newsletter? The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It reaches 540,000 subscribers with a 45.6% open rate as of August 2026. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 2, 2017 4:05 PM UTC  OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 01: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena on June 1, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 01: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena on June 1, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Ronald Martinez—Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 2, 2017 4:05 PM UTC While there were plenty of memorable moments during [the first game of the NBA Finals](http://time.com/money/4798003/cavaliers-warriors-nba-finals-tickets-prices/) ([Rihanna bowing to LeBron James and dabbing on a Warriors fan comes to mind,](http://time.com/4802935/rihanna-nba-finals/)) it looks like the first meme of the series has arrived thanks to [Dubs star Steph Curry](http://time.com/4301269/stephen-curry-2016-time-100/). After shooting a majestic three-pointer, Curry celebrated with a victory dance as is his wont; however, this time around, his dance consisted of a couple of high kicks not unlike the Christmas special from the Rockettes. Needless to say, the Internet immediately lost it over Curry’s very GIF-able high kicks, taking to the web with plenty of hot takes and jokes. Some people took the moment to rib Curry for his former Dad shoes. > [](https://twitter.com/karenehowell/status/870475693049749504) While others saw it as a chance to tease Curry’s teammate’s defensive tactics. > [](https://twitter.com/Bballforeverfb/status/870476345159151616) And others revived the tired 3-1 lead joke. > [](https://twitter.com/cedfunches/status/870475415264968705) Some felt that [the Cavs’ J.R. Smith](http://time.com/4378814/j-r-smith-cavaliers-championship-parade/) was less enamored with the high kicks than most of Oracle Arena mid-game. > [](https://twitter.com/Lizzs%5FLockeroom/status/870476639116898305) Even football players – San Francisco 49ers punter Brandley Pinion and the Oakland Raiders’ punter Marquette King – got in on the fun. > [](https://twitter.com/pinion92/status/870501816789721090) > [](https://twitter.com/MarquetteKing/status/870505358707445760) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/"},"headline":"The Internet Is Losing It Over the Latest Athlete Meme: Steph Curry's Celebratory High Kicks","datePublished":"2017-06-02T16:05:23.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:44:08.845Z","description":"You've never seen a victory dance like this before","url":"https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Basketball","NBA","Stephen Curry","steph curry","Sports"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta742e42b545fdf3f/6988cfe9ab6d7713496ae5e3/steph-curry-high-kick-celebration-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta742e42b545fdf3f/6988cfe9ab6d7713496ae5e3/steph-curry-high-kick-celebration-nba-finals.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2017 NBA Finals - Game One","caption":"2017 NBA Finals - Game One","creditText":"Ronald Martinez—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4803028/steph-curry-kick-meme/","name":"The Internet Is Losing It Over the Latest Athlete Meme: Steph Curry's Celebratory High Kicks"}}]}] ```