George Kittle has admitted that meeting Stephen Curry for the first time genuinely caught him off guard.
George Kittle explained that his perception of Stephen Curry shifted the moment they met at a San Francisco Giants baseball game.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end detailed how that first interaction quickly changed how he viewed his own size.
George Kittle’s surprising Stephen Curry realisation
George Kittle, who stands at around 6’4, is viewed as average height by NFL standards and plays one of the league’s most physical positions.
Curry, listed at around 6’2, is often perceived as undersized within the NBA because of the size of players around him.
That contrast shaped Kittle’s expectations before they met in person. He admitted in a conversation with Complex that the reality surprised him.
“The first time I ever met Steph was actually at a San Francisco Giants baseball game. It really messed with my mental state. When I met him in Perth for the first time, I was like, ah, shoot. I’m not that big. I’m just not.”
Kittle puts NBA athleticism into perspective
The encounter also led Kittle to reflect on the physical differences between the NFL and NBA. Despite his own size and strength, he acknowledged the distinct athletic demands of basketball.
Kittle recalled another moment that reinforced that perspective when he watched LeBron James from courtside. The display of athleticism clearly stood out to him.
“And then one time I got to see, like, I got to sit courtside and watch LeBron do a full-court spin move dunk. And I was like, oh my God, just dunking it. Good for you, man. That’s not me. We play different games. I would hit him in the knees, though.”
Kittle’s remarks highlight how context can shift perception across professional sports. A player who feels average in one league can look entirely different when stepping into another environment.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
