During a recent ACC Tipoff shoot, a simple phone call displayed the bond between a new head coach and a basketball legend. Florida State coach Luke Loucks reached out to his former Golden State Warriors colleague, Steph Curry, and the resulting conversation revealed a relationship built on more than championship rings.
Why Did Luke Loucks Call Steph Curry During ACC Tipoff?
The moment was captured in a video posted by the ACC Network on Oct. 8 from the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte. Loucks represented Florida State at the league’s preseason media day alongside transfers Kobe MaGee and Chauncey Wiggins. When asked about the most famous person on his phone, he decided to dial up Curry on speaker.
“This is 12:22, [which] means 9:22 in California time. No answer,” Loucks said as the call connected. Just then, Curry picked up.
“They asked me who the most famous person in my phone was, and you’re the first person that came to mind,” Loucks explained.
“I let you down for about five seconds,” Curry joked in response. “What’s up, what’s up, Seminole family.”
Steph Curry picked up Coach Luke Loucks call 😂 🔥 @FSUHoops | @warriors pic.twitter.com/1HhyICEN1w
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 8, 2025
Loucks was part of Golden State’s staff for four years, from 2014 to 2018, where he won back-to-back championships with Curry in 2017 and 2018. That connection proved valuable earlier this year when Loucks needed some advice on building his new staff at FSU.
How Did Curry Influence Luke Loucks’ Coaching Decisions?
As Loucks took over, he wanted to involve former FSU star Terance Mann, who currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks, in the program. He saw that Curry had recently taken an assistant GM role at his alma mater, Davidson, so Loucks called him for insight.
“I called Steph about it, I said, ‘What’s the deal with this?’ And he’s like, ‘Really, they just wanted money,'” Loucks recalled at an April booster event. “And so he gave them some money, but he said it’s really cool he’s helping them out with recruiting, help FaceTime some kids, and the next thing you know, Trae Young does the same thing with Oklahoma. And Trae is Terance Mann’s teammate in Atlanta.”
Following that conversation, Loucks pitched a similar setup to Mann. Although Mann initially thought Loucks was seeking a donation, the coach clarified that he wanted more. He envisioned Mann actively recruiting, constructing the roster, and connecting with potential transfers. Mann agreed to the role without hesitation. “That night, he was on the phone with two or three guys,” Loucks said.
Now, Mann texts the coaching staff daily about recruits and potential connections. This assistance became crucial after 10 players entered the transfer portal when Loucks was hired, forcing him to rebuild the roster from the ground up. The public phone call at the ACC Tipoff was more than just a funny moment; it showed that the relationship between Loucks and Curry is still strong. When Loucks needed a favor to impress his players, Curry answered, demonstrating the powerful connection vital when starting a new era in Tallahassee.