After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, joining the Los Angeles Lakers on an Exhibit 10 deal, and having a string of impressive performances in the summer league and preseason, former Xavier University guard Quincy Olivari found himself in the same position as every college graduate fresh out of school.
Looking for a job.
“I just want a job in the NBA,” Olivari told reporters in an Oct. 18 news conference after ending his preseason with a clutch, game-winning performance for the Lakers against the Milwaukee Bucks, later followed by a 22-point starting lineup outing against the Golden State Warriors. “I’ll bring energy to whatever team that wants me … I honestly don’t know what comes next.”
The Lakers saw enough in Olivari to offer him a two-way contract the next day, allowing him to develop with their South Bay Lakers G League affiliate and occasionally be called up to suit up for NBA games. But Olivari didn’t know that another team would be offering another job soon after.
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On Dec. 12, Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s Under Armour-backed venture, Curry Brand, announced it had signed Olivari to a multiyear partnership. Olivari will exclusively wear Curry Brand and Under Armour basketball shoes on the court and will be a brand ambassador for Curry Brand.
“As we continue to build out our elite roster of athletes at Curry Brand, we’re adding dynamic players such as Quincy Olivari who will give us more versatility in the sneaker and performance space,” Curry said in a news release. “I’m proud to have him join our Curry Brand team and this is somewhat of a full circle moment for us. I’m a big fan of his game and his work ethic, and it’s an honor to know he believes in our brand and what we’re doing on and off the court.”
The deal follows Olivari’s viral moment from the Oct. 18 news conference, when he spoke emotionally about his postgame meeting with the four-time NBA champion and his childhood idol. The first pinned post on Olivari’s Instagram feed is one of Curry signing a jersey for him in 2015 when he was 13 years old.
“Some people from his brand hit me up saying that they wanted to take care of me and send me some gear,” Olivari said of how the relationship was initiated, mentioning that he was sent clothes and around 13 pairs of shoes. “I remember asking [them]is there any way I can connect them with my agent so we could just build a relationship, just to see where we could go from there.”
Obviously none of us can see the future, but they have a belief in me that I can be something special
– Quincy Olivari
“I saw Steph embrace him, so I really wanted to hear what he had to say,” said Curry Brand sports marketing lead Brian Williams, who met with Olivari in Los Angeles in late October. Williams, who spearheaded the deal, said Olivari’s charisma and joy for the game impressed him. “It was one of those things where I felt like he was authentic. He wants to be with us in this brand.”
“We found ourselves at lunch just kind of just talking and connecting dots,” said Olivari’s agent, Darrell Comer. “The next couple of weeks just became regular check-ins and them sending a lot of great products. But from a professional standpoint, my stance was ‘let’s actually put something to paper and make it official.’ ”
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After about a month of back-and-forth, an agreement was reached. Comer declined to disclose financials but said it is a “two-year deal with opportunities for renewal.” Still in its early stages, the Curry Brand has already made a splash by signing All-NBA Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and releasing his signature shoe, the Curry Fox 1, this season. However, the company finds itself in unique territory by signing players such as Olivari and fellow G Leaguer Keisei Tominaga to deals despite those players not having a guaranteed contract with an NBA team.
“Obviously none of us can see the future, but they have a belief in me that I can be something special,” said Olivari, who is currently averaging 18.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the G League. “Steph is a big supporter of mine and I think the way I approached them about the whole situation in just introducing myself and being authentic and vulnerable was a telltale sign that I’m someone you can believe in. That along with my story of how I’ve worked my way to this point spoke volumes to how I fit with them as a brand.”
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Olivari, who won regional and state championships with Westlake High School, only got two offers. The 6-foot-3 Atlanta native started his college career at Rice University and became the school’s record holder for most 3-pointers made while making two All-Conference USA teams and graduating with honors. Olivari used his grad year of athletic eligibility to enter the transfer portal and play for Xavier University, where in his only year there, he was second in the Big East conference in scoring during the 2023-24 season.
“Quincy embodies a part of Steph,” Williams said, pointing out how both players emerged from smaller Division 1 universities. Williams added that Curry Brand is unique because their flagship athlete still plays, opening up opportunities for younger players such as Olivari to be mentored directly. “We know Steph for who he is now, but Steph was in the same position earlier on in his middle school, high school career where you weren’t that superstar guy. Quincy talked about his path. It wasn’t a traditional path. There may have been times where he wasn’t looked at as the best player on his team. Those synergies with Steph, as well as Q, it made it a no-brainer.”
South Bay Lakers guard Quincy Olivari wears the Under Armour Curry 1 Low FloTro “Saw” during the game against the San Diego Clippers on Dec. 7 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Olivari debuted in the NBA on Dec. 8 against the Portland Trail Blazers, when he scored his first big league bucket, appropriately a 3-pointer, rocking the Curry 1 Low in a “Saw” colorway inspired by Saw, one of Curry’s favorite horror films. Olivari said that he’s never seen the movie as he is not a big fan of the genre. He may play in Curry Brand’s low-cut sneakers more often than not, as the shoe is built for shifty guards.
“I like movement for my ankle, and it’s a style and comfort thing for me,” he said about his preference. Olivari says he’s insisted that Curry Brand send him shoes that not everyone can get, especially since he and Curry wear the same shoe size. “They have to be light, and they have to be responsive, because I move a lot. I’m a player that plays with a lot of quickness, so stopping and starting is important for me to succeed on the court.”
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As far as off-court goes, Olivari is looking forward to introducing Curry Brand and Under Armour to audiences who may not consider them fashionable and finding ways to give back to the community.
“I’m excited to show that this stuff is actually fresh,” he said, mentioning he is especially fond of Under Armour’s velour tracksuits. “You’ll never see me put on something just because. Whatever you wear is a representation of you. So I’m just going to continue being myself, doing the appearances and anything else that comes with being assigned to a shoe deal.”
South Bay Lakers guard Quincy Olivari wears the Under Armour Curry 4 Low Flotro “Curry Camp” during the game against the Salt Lake City Stars on Dec. 6 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
South Bay Lakers guard Quincy Olivari wears the Under Armour Curry 1 Low FloTro “Curry Tour” during the game against the Stockton Kings on Nov. 17 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.
AJ Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images
Olivari says he feels supported knowing he is not expected to put 30 points a night in the shoes, giving him space to grow and still have fun while playing. But he and his agent still understand what is at stake as he continues to find his footing in the league while leaving a path to follow.
“Quincy is playing every night with his back against the wall,” Comer said. “Just to be able to get a player who’s on a two-way contract, an actual deal where he could potentially even have his own player exclusive, this is groundbreaking. Now it’s about inspiring the next so now other players that are on two-way contracts should be working their butt off and putting themselves out there so they can position themselves to actually get shoe deals as well.”
Maurice Garland is a marathon-running, yoga-practicing writer who has had the same phone number and barber since 2003. He’s penned impactful stories for legendary publications ranging from Billboard to Black Enterprise. In addition to being a longtime mentor at youth media organization VOX ATL, he’s appeared on VH1, spoken at Spelman and Princeton, co-authored The Art Behind the Tape, edited Pimp C’s autobiography and J. Prince’s memoir.
