Tom Holland became a Golden State Warriors fan after watching Steph Curry's team live in New York
Sometimes, it only takes one game to flip a fan's heart—and that's exactly what happened to
Tom Holland
. Back in 2016, he sat courtside at MSG as Steph Curry's Warriors dominated the Knicks. The buzz, the energy, the performance—it was all too convincing.
Holland walked in as a rookie to the sport and walked out a die-hard.
'So you're a front-runner?' Kimmel asked. 'For sure,' he grinned.
How Tom Holland switched from clueless Brit to Steph Curry believer after his first
NBA
outing
During an interview with host Jimmy Kimmel, Holland was questioned about his basketball knowledge, and he admitted he was "not great" at it—but that didn't prevent him from being a fan of the game. Holland reminisced about his first NBA game in January 2016, where the Warriors faced off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The Golden State team, fresh from a championship win that season, crushed the Knicks with a score of 116-95.
Despite the Garden being Knicks territory, Holland was unapologetic: 'the first ever basketball game I went to was the Golden State Warriors … in New York,' He laughed, asserting that cheering for the champs didn't mean he was a glory hunter. When Kimmel poked fun, "So you're a front-runner, right?" he proudly responded, "For sure.
I'm not ashamed at all."
By June 2017, Holland's fandom was so genuine that he proudly proclaimed his loyalty to Curry and the Warriors—and it wasn't some fleeting celebrity trend.
In the 2015–16 season, Steph Curry's Warriors broke the NBA record with an amazing 73–9 regular-season record, followed by a powerful championship run. Holland was there to see it all unfold live, which laid the groundwork for his love for the team.
That one moment of seeing the Warriors in their prime clearly made a difference.
Robert Downey Jr. & Tom Holland Talk Basketball
Over the years, Holland has been spotted courtside at Golden State home games—particularly in May 2023 at the Chase Center during the playoffs—often alongside his fiancée, Zendaya.
Tom Holland's tale illustrates just how significant live sports experiences can be. Instead of selecting a team based on stories or where they're from, his dedication was shaped by the electrifying vibe of watching Steph Curry's Warriors excel in person.
Additionally, Holland's straightforward remark—"100% not ashamed"—adds a layer of sincerity to his support.
Whether you're a devoted Knicks supporter or a Curry lover, Holland's experience shows us that sometimes just one unforgettable game can shift loyalties for good.
Also Read:
Angel Reese's first signature shoe with Reebok signals a new era for women's basketball
From being a New Yorker to cheering for Steph Curry, Tom Holland's path into NBA fandom wasn't planned—it was all about the experience. Thrown into an incredible Warriors win at Madison Square Garden, he discovered a team he could really get behind. And as he mentioned back in 2017: 'I'm not even ashamed.'
Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
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