Steph Curry Pays Tribute To Faith, Wife, Family During Tearful MVP Acceptance Speech
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry spoke about his biggest influences during an emotional speech in accepting his NBA Most Valuable Player Award on Monday.
Curry a devout Christian, first gave a tribute to Jesus Christ, giving thanks for his abilities to play basketball.
He then appeared to compose himself before delivering an eloquent acknowledgment of his wife, Ayesha Alexander, and her role in his career.
"I gotta start with my wife. (Pause) We met when we were 14, 15 years old in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the last seven, eight years have been amazing. We've both grown into adults, we've moved cross-country together, started a new life … and you're my backbone, you've allowed me to do what I do, to focus on basketball and my career, and still have a family. That's … the sacrifices you make are unbelievable. And I can't thank you enough for who you are as a person, how you challenge me, how you inspire me every single day. We have a beautiful daughter, and one on the way. She's over there smiling at me. (Laughs)
I love you so much, and I can't thank you enough for just being there for me, day in and day out, whether I have a good game or a bad game, whether we lose, we win, um … when I go home, things are good. And that's comforting to know. And um, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done for me. You deserve a round of applause for sure."
Curry then lauded his parents, former NBA player Dell Curry and his mother Sonya Curry, for his and his brother's and sister's upbringing. His recognition of following in his father's footsteps brought tears to his father's eyes and had Curry choking up at the podium.
Curry then individually recognized his brother Seth and sister Sydel, and described how proud he was of being their sibling.
Curry also called out every one of his Warrior teammates, head coach Steve Kerr, general manager Bob Myers and just about every other Warriors employee.
He is the second Warrior to be awarded league MVP, the first being Wilt Chamberlain of the then-Philadelphia Warriors during the 1959-60 season.
