49ers Star George Kittle Recalls Surprising Realization After First Meeting Stephen Curry

Kittle says his initial interaction with the Warriors star "messed with his mental state".

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle shared a hilarious story about his first encounter with Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Kittle, who is around 6'4" tall, was surprised to find that Curry, listed at 6'2", did not seem as small in person as Kittle had expected based on Curry's stature compared to his NBA peers. Kittle also discussed a similar experience watching NBA legend LeBron James play up close.

Why it matters

Kittle's story highlights the perception differences between the heights of athletes in different sports. While Curry is considered small for an NBA player, he would be seen as fairly tall in the NFL, where Kittle plays. This anecdote provides an amusing glimpse into how professional athletes from various sports view each other's physiques.

The details

Kittle recalled first meeting Curry at a San Francisco Giants baseball game, saying the interaction "really messed with my mental state." Kittle explained that when he later met Curry in person in Perth, Australia, he realized "I'm not that big. I'm just not." Kittle also shared a story about watching LeBron James perform an impressive dunk courtside, saying "Good for you, man. That's not me. We play different games."

  • Kittle first met Curry at a San Francisco Giants game.
  • Kittle later met Curry in person in Perth, Australia.

The players

George Kittle

A tight end for the San Francisco 49ers who is a multi-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.

Stephen Curry

A superstar point guard for the Golden State Warriors who is considered small for an NBA player, standing around 6'2" tall.

LeBron James

An NBA legend who Kittle was able to watch perform an impressive dunk courtside.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— George Kittle, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers (Complex Sports)

“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.”

— George Kittle, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers (Complex Sports)

What’s next

Kittle suffered a torn Achilles during the 49ers' playoff run this year, and he will likely miss a significant portion of the 2026 NFL season, if not the entire year, due to the injury.

The takeaway

Kittle's anecdotes about his interactions with Curry and James illustrate the stark differences in physique between athletes in the NFL and NBA. While Kittle is considered a large man in the NFL, he was surprised to find that Curry, who is small by NBA standards, did not seem as diminutive in person. This highlights the unique perspectives professional athletes from different sports have on each other's body types.