National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is a devout Christian who has just led his team to a historic NBA championship.
Curry once again led the Warriors in defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-97, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night, winning the championship for the first time in 40 years. He and teammate Andre Iguodala finished with a team-high 25 points each as the Warriors wrapped up the best-of-seven championship series 4-2.
Curry became just the sixth player in NBA history to win his first MVP and his first title in the same season. The last player to do so was Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-2000.
The boyish-faced Warriors' guard also made waves in the court for his record-breaking 98 three-pointers during the NBA playoffs, including the three triples he made in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Curry often points his right index finger every time he makes a three-pointer, saying this is his way of proclaiming his love and faith towards Jesus Christ.
"I try to use every game as an opportunity to witness. I try to do a little signal every time I make a shot as a way to preach the message in little ways that I can," Curry told Active Faith. "Each game is an opportunity to be on a great stage and be a witness for Christ. When I step on the floor, people should know who I represent, who I believe in."
In fact, when he designed a shoe with fitness clothing brand Under Armour, Curry had the number 4:13 placed underneath the shoe.
"It represents a Bible verse I wear on my shoe," he explained. "Philippians 4:13. It says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' It's also my mantra, how I get up for games and why I play the way I do."
Curry established his strong Christian faith when he was just a young boy. His parents took him to church every Sunday and Wednesday, and it was only when he came up to the altar one day and the youth pastor urged him to make a personal decision about his faith that Curry made it. And the basketball star has remained committed to strengthening his relationship with God since then.
"There are so many things we have to overcome in this life with Jesus, His work on the cross, He's paid the ultimate price for us so I'm proud to be a child of God," he said.
