NBA star, Stephen Curry, was born in Akron, Ohio in 1988 but spent most of his formative years in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father, Dell Curry, played pro basketball with the Charlotte Hornets when Stephen was a child. His mother started a Christian Montessori school when Stephen was in first grade. It became a family affair with her mother serving as head mistress, his aunt was a teacher, his grandmother cooked and Stephen and his siblings attended. They were raised in a home that loved and revered God, attending services on Sundays and youth Bible studies on Wednesday evenings.
“I remember it like it was yesterday, the day I gave my life to Christ. I was in fourth grade, and I recall hearing and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking down the aisle to give my life to Him,” Stephen told the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Magazine in a 2015 article. “My parents continued to pour into my faith from that point on, making sure I understood the
But there was more to his life than school and church. Stephen and his younger brother, Seth, spent countless hours playing basketball on their home court, which was lit up at night with a bright stage light. The two boys got into some pretty fierce matches — great training for Stephen’s future.
Stephen aspired to being a professional basketball player, like his father. He hoped to attend Virginia Tech, but they weren’t interested. Though he was disappointed, Stephen was confident God’s plan, whatever it was, would be the best course to follow. So, when he met Bob McKillop, who had a clear picture of how to help Stephen succeed in his career, he committed to attending Davidson College. McKillop was a godly man and Stephen was eager to learn from him, both on the court and off the court.
Photo credit: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
God had indeed blessed Stephen Curry with a gift for the game. After a successful college career, he was the seventh overall draft pick in 2009. The following year, he averaged 22 points per game, playing for the Golden State Warriors, and ended up in second place in the Rookie of the Year balloting. And injury slowed him down the following to years but he rebounded in 2012-2013 season with 272 three-pointers. He and the Golden State Warriors went on to win two consecutive NBA championships.
Stephen’s faith continues to be a driving force in all he undertakes. “I love that basketball gives me the opportunities to do good things for people and to point them towards the Man who died for our sins on the cross. I know I have a place in heaven waiting for me because of Him, and that’s something no earthly prize or trophy could ever top.”
“There’s more to me than just this jersey I wear, and that’s Christ living inside of me.” – Stephen Curry
