Stephen Curry is like no NBA player we have ever seen. He’s got a bit of Steve Nash in him, but his ability to get shots off the dribble, and make them with startling accuracy, is unprecedented. Curry won the MVP award a season ago, and won a championship. This year he seems even better, and the Warriors are currently 28-1.
Curry’s efforts are earning him world-wide popularity. Now, he’s been honored with the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award. From ESPN:
His amazing year, in which he won an MVP, led to Golden State to its first title in 40 years and helped the Warriors get off to a record-setting start this season earned him The Associated Press 2015 Male Athlete of the Year.
Curry finished first in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors, with the results released Saturday. He joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only basketball players to win the honor in the 85 years of the award. Curry beat out golfer Jordan Spieth, who won two majors, and American Pharoah, who became the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown.
While American Pharoah got three more first-place votes than Curry’s 24, Curry appeared on 86 percent of the 82 ballots that ranked the top five candidates. More than one-third of the voters left American Pharoah off their list.
“That’s a real honor,” Curry said. “I’m appreciative of that acknowledgement because it’s across all different sports. … It’s pretty cool.”
I was skeptical of Curry as MVP last year. I wouldn’t take it away from him, and I think he was deserving of the award. I just think that James Harden was more deserving for carrying that injury-riddled team so far. This award, though, is all Curry’s. He absolutely deserves it.
Curry is the face of the NBA. He’s become internationally famous. The casual bystander knows who Curry is, knows about his wife Ayesha. Has seen the videos of his daughter Riley.
This award is a huge honor, since it can go to somebody from any sport. It’s fitting that Curry received the award. He’s doing things that nobody has ever done in basketball. This award is a big deal, and Curry deserves it.
