Steph Curry in the tradition of the late great Kobe Bryant, works tirelessly to promote the growth of women’s basketball. Curry was asked about his impact on the game during his friendly 3-Point Challenge battle against WNBA player Sabrina Ionescu. He respectfully shared some wisdom he heard from Bryant.
There was more to the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend than impressive dunks and thrilling three-point shootouts. It provided an opportunity for Steph Curry to display his dedication to shaping the future of basketball for both men’s and women’s teams.
Steph Curry recalls Kobe’s words on leaving the game a better place
Already dedicated to forging stronger ties between men’s and women’s sports, Bryant was particularly close to Sabrina Ionescu after she had challenged Curry in the 3-Point Shootout. Their friendly battle was entertaining as well as a powerful reminder that basketball is a gender-neutral sport. Women’s basketball has long been a source of support for Kobe Bryant.
After retiring from the game in 2016, he discovered deeper meaning in it, and his passion for it only deepened over time. For many young women, his constant encouragement of his daughter Gigi’s basketball career served as an inspiration.
“Kobe used to say it all the time, Try to leave the game in a much better place than when you found it,'” Curry stated, “That’s obviously, in the NBA what I’ve done, and tried to do for these last 15 years. It’s also on basketball in general, to support the women’s game is huge. We gotta keep doing it.”
“Kobe used to say it all the time, ‘Try to leave the game in a much better place than when you found it.’ … To support the women’s game is huge. We gotta keep doing it.” @StephenCurry30 on being an ambassador for both men’s and women’s basketball 👏 pic.twitter.com/ogFcMZx14b
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 2, 2024
Kobe Bryant’s legacy shaped Steph Curry’s career
Curry was taken aback to see that he and Bryant are the only players to reach 60 after 35. After the game, he told reporters he felt honoured to join the Lakers but was hoping for a win.
“That’s pretty cool,” Curry added. “I didn’t know that. That was his last game? That’s special, granted we lost. It’s just one of those things you kind of feel as you go, knowing we’re on a back-to-back coming in late, trying to do whatever you can to keep our team in it.”
Two great athletes who changed the game on the court, their significance goes beyond awards and statistics. Curry and Bryant used their platforms to inspire a generation and promote the sport for men and women.
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