Fans often admire Steph Curry for his remarkable shooting ability and game control on the basketball court, where he appears noticeably smaller than many opponents. However, 49ers tight end George Kittle was taken aback when he met Curry and discovered that the basketball star’s actual height was much closer to his own than he had expected. The revelation came during a chance meeting at a San Francisco Giants baseball game that challenged Kittle’s perception of Curry’s stature.
Kittle reflected,
“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 said.
Height Comparison Between NFL Star and NBA Icon
Standing at 6-foot-4, George Kittle is recognized as one of the larger skill players in the NFL. Despite the significant difference in their playing styles and physical builds, Kittle was surprised to learn just how close Steph Curry’s height is to his own. Curry measures 6-foot-2, only two inches shorter than Kittle, which contradicts the common perception of Curry as a smaller presence on the court. Their weights remain vastly different, but the height revelation caught Kittle off guard.
Steph Curry’s Recovery and the Warriors’ Playoff Plans
Steph Curry is currently recovering from right patellofemoral pain syndrome, often known as runner’s knee. Although this condition is not severe or expected to have long-term effects, the Golden State Warriors are proceeding with caution before Curry resumes full activity. The team is hopeful that Curry will return healthy for the critical stretch of the season after the All-Star break and make a strong push in the playoffs.
George Kittle’s Road Back After Achilles Injury
Meanwhile, George Kittle is also on a recovery path, but from a far more serious injury sustained during the San Francisco 49ers’ wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon and has since undergone surgery. Encouragingly, the operation was successful, and Kittle remains cautiously optimistic about returning in time for the 2026 NFL season, roughly eight months after the injury occurred.
(Dr. Neal) ElAttrache said best-case scenario when you tear an Achilles is that you tear it up high by your soleus, which is what I did. I had a clean tear. They didn’t have to drill into my heel. And where the repair was there’s more blood flow. And so it takes some time off of the recovery time … It’s not as bad as other ones,” Kittle explained.
– George Kittle, 49ers Tight End
The Significance of Height and Injury Recovery in Elite Athletes
Kittle’s surprise at Curry’s height challenges common assumptions that basketball players like Curry are always significantly shorter than football players such as himself. This unexpected closeness in stature highlights how athlete appearances can be deceiving in different sports contexts. Both athletes are currently navigating challenges that could affect their seasons—Curry’s knee recovery and Kittle’s Achilles rehabilitation—making their physical health crucial to their teams’ postseason ambitions.
As Curry prepares for a cautious return to basketball, and Kittle approaches a tentative comeback from surgery, fans will be closely watching how these elite athletes overcome their setbacks. Their rehabilitation processes and eventual performance could greatly impact the success of the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers in the upcoming seasons.
George Kittle didn’t realize how tall Steph curry was 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Px1rCN4OAa
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 13, 2026
