Stephen Curry Meets Black Boy with Cerebral Palsy — His Touching Reaction Moves the World | HO

When the world first saw the video, it seemed like just another heartwarming clip: NBA superstar Stephen Curry meeting a seven-year-old Black boy named Jaden Williams, who was living with cerebral palsy. But what happened next was so genuine, so moving, that it captured the hearts of millions and reminded us all of the power of empathy, representation, and dreams.

A Dream Born in East Oakland

Jaden Williams lives with his mother, Tanisha, in a modest two-bedroom apartment in East Oakland, just four kilometers from the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. Every morning, Tanisha wakes Jaden for therapy. Despite the challenges of cerebral palsy, which mostly affects his right side, Jaden’s room is a shrine to his hero: Steph Curry. Posters, jerseys, and a mini basketball are daily reminders of the hope and inspiration that Curry provides.

Tanisha juggles two jobs to support her son, since Jaden’s father left soon after the diagnosis. But she never saw her son as a burden—only as a gift with an unbreakable spirit. Jaden’s uncle, Derek, a local basketball coach, became his biggest supporter, adapting drills and hoops so Jaden could play, no matter his limitations.

From a Viral Video to a Movement

Jaden’s love for basketball, and for Curry, became the center of his world. He watched every Warriors game, practiced shots in the parking lot, and even used basketball as motivation to get through tough therapy sessions. “Steph isn’t the tallest or strongest,” Derek would say, “but he works harder than anyone. Like you, Jaden.”

One night, Derek filmed Jaden celebrating a Warriors win, his joy radiating through the screen as he shouted, “Steph is magic!” Moved by his nephew’s passion, Derek posted the video on a new Instagram account, hoping to inspire a few friends. But the internet had other plans. Within days, the video had tens of thousands of views, shared by Warriors fans, disability advocates, and eventually, NBA players like CJ McCollum, who tagged Curry directly: “Let Jaden meet Steph.”

At first, Tanisha was hesitant. She worried about exposing her son to the cruelties of the internet. But the outpouring of support was overwhelming and positive. As more people shared Jaden’s story, it became clear that this was about more than one boy meeting his hero—it was about visibility, hope, and breaking barriers.

The Warriors Take Notice

The story caught the attention of local media, then national sports reporters. During a Warriors pregame broadcast, a respected journalist highlighted Jaden’s dream, and soon after, the official Golden State Warriors account followed Jaden’s Instagram.

What Tanisha and Derek didn’t know was that Curry himself had seen the video at home. “We need to do something for this kid,” he told his wife Ayesha. But Curry wanted more than a quick photo op; he wanted to make it special.

A Day Jaden Will Never Forget

The official call came on an ordinary Tuesday: the Warriors invited Jaden and his family to tour the team’s training facility. They didn’t promise a meeting with Curry, but the hope was enough. Jaden wore his oldest, most beloved number 30 shirt—the one Uncle Derek gave him when he first fell in love with basketball.

The tour was magical: championship trophies, the press room, the gym. But as the visit seemed to end, Lisa, their guide, led them to the main practice court. The gym was empty—until a basketball bounced behind them and a familiar voice called out, “Hey, this court is already taken. I’m training here.”

There stood Steph Curry, smiling, spinning a ball on his finger.

Jaden froze, then burst into tears of joy. Curry knelt to Jaden’s level and said, “You must be the famous Jaden. I heard you have a shot almost as good as mine. I came to see it personally.” Jaden, overwhelmed, asked for a hug, which Curry gave without hesitation.

For the next hour, Curry trained with Jaden, lowering the basket and adapting drills to his abilities. “The most important thing isn’t strength,” Curry said, “it’s consistency. Same movement every time.” Jaden’s face shone with pride as he made shot after shot, cheered on by his hero.

More Than a Meeting — A Movement Begins

After their session, Curry surprised Jaden with a table of gifts: custom sneakers with “Jaden” on the side, a signed jersey, and a VIP pass to be the honorary warm-up assistant at a Warriors home game. But the most touching moment came when Curry shared his own childhood doubts. “People told me I was too small for the NBA,” he confided, “but I kept training. We don’t let anyone define what we can do, right?” Jaden nodded, and the two created their own special handshake.

The Warriors posted a video of the encounter, captioned, “Some fans inspire us as much as we try to inspire them.” It went viral, with over a million views in an hour. Jaden became a symbol—not of disability, but of perseverance and joy.

The Ripple Effect

Jaden’s newfound confidence was visible everywhere. He volunteered in class, made new friends, and pushed himself in therapy, whispering, “How would Steph do it?” when things got tough. Curry sent a personalized video before Jaden’s surgery, calming his nerves and inspiring him to recover quickly.

But Curry’s impact didn’t stop there. He announced the creation of the Jaden Foundation, dedicated to making sports accessible for children with disabilities. Ten community courts in Oakland were adapted, and stories poured in from around the country: parents inspired to get their children involved in sports, coaches creating inclusive programs.

A Legacy of Hope

The story reached its emotional peak when Jaden, wearing his personalized jersey, joined the Warriors on court as the honorary warm-up assistant. As he and Curry made the three-point gesture together, the crowd erupted. Dr. Ramirez, a pediatric psychologist, explained on ESPN: “When children with disabilities see someone like Jaden on that stage, the impact is immeasurable.”

For Tanisha, the transformation was most evident at home: Jaden dressing himself, walking with his walker, meeting strangers’ eyes with confidence. One year later, Jaden and Curry led a basketball clinic for kids with disabilities at Chase Center. “Did you know I learned this move from my friend Jaden?” Curry told the crowd.

Derek, watching from the sidelines, marveled at how far they’d come. “I just wanted him to meet his idol. I never dreamed we’d end up here.” Here—a place where Jaden was celebrated for his perseverance, and where one meeting between a boy and his hero became a movement for change.

Stephen Curry gave Jaden—and countless others—permission to dream bigger. And the world is better for it.