Curry Almost Didn’t Make It…

Pictured Far Right: Sonya Curry and her son, Stephen Curry. Courtesy of Twitter

The NBA Finals will be wrapped up sometime this upcoming week, perhaps as early as tonight, and it will be without a recent contender in the Golden State Warriors including its star, 3-point specialist…

Stephen Curry, a nine-time All-Star, two-time MVP (Most Valuable Player), two-time Gold Medalist, and four-time NBA Champion.

“Steph,” short for Stephen, has been known to be just as good off the court as he’s been on the court. In 2012, Curry started donating three insecticide-treated mosquito nets to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to combat malaria for every three-pointer he made. In 2015, after winning the MVP award following his impressive season, Curry donated his prize vehicle—a 2016 Kia Sorento—to the East Oakland Youth Development Center, a local non-profit organization located in the backyard of Oracle Arena. In July 2019, Curry and his wife launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in Oakland, CA. The foundation works to end childhood hunger, increase access to quality education, and provide safe spaces for children to stay active. (Source: Wikipedia). These are just a few examples of charitable activities that Steph has found to give back in order to help the needs of others and which motivate him to make a difference. But what directs and guides these decisions?

It’s Steph’s faith. His faith shapes and influences his decisions both on and off the court including the ones just mentioned above. He says, “People should know who I represent and why I am who I am, and that’s because of my Lord and Savior.” He also said the reason that he pounds his chest and points up is that he has a ‘heart for God’ and as a reminder that he plays for God. On some of his ‘Curry One’ basketball shoes, there is a lace loop scripted ‘4:13.’ It is a reference to the Bible verse Phil. 4:13, which reads: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ In addition, Curry has a tattoo of 1 Cor. 13:8 in Hebrew on his wrist (‘Love never fails…’). Curry is also an investor in Active Faith, a Christian sports apparel brand” (Source: Wikipedia).

As remarkable as these examples are in Steph’s life, and with all of the accolades and endorsement deals that Curry has received, what may be more remarkable is that Stephen, the phenom, almost didn’t make it into this world. First, let’s focus on the family dynamic. Steph has a younger sister, Sydel, a younger brother, Seth (who currently plays in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets), and his dad, Dell, who retired in 2002 from the NBA. (It runs in the family 🙂 ) Many may not know that Steph has an older sibling who was aborted, and when Steph’s mom, Sonya, found out she was pregnant a second time, she was faced with a tough call…Does she abort again, or does she keep baby Steph? I think we all know how that turned out…Very well as I explained in just a snapshot of Steph’s life above. But what circumstances surrounded this crisis pregnancy for this NBA Icon to-be and his mom?

Sonya wrote in her memoir, Fierce Love: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Purpose, that not only did she consider aborting the future NBA superstar, but that she had gone so far as to drive to a Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic. “However, she decided not to go in for the abortion procedure; one media outlet stated that Curry was standing outside of the abortion facility when she knew she wouldn’t go through with it. One of the reasons she reconsidered the abortion, she said, was that she had previously undergone an abortion when she was in high school, dating an older man, and preparing to go to college. When she became pregnant unexpectedly a second time (this time the father was NBA player, Dell Curry), she knew she didn’t want to have another abortion… ‘Just the Spirit interceding at that moment in a way that I didn’t even know at the moment was happening, just spoke to again — the purpose of faith and […] that, Okay I don’t want to make this decision, because that would have been the second time and I don’t want to make that decision again and now I just gotta trust God to move forward with me having this child’” (Source: National Right to Life News).

Sonya moved forward with raising Steph, the first of three children she had with Dell. Sonya now speaks openly about her faith and the situation with almost aborting Steph. She has asked for forgiveness, turned her grief and burden from the abortion of her first child over to Jesus, and has come to the realization that there is nothing to fear (Source: Daily Citizen – Focus on The Family).

While Steph’s parents, Sonya and Dell filed for divorce in 2021 after 33 years of marriage, Steph, who is now 35 years-old, has been happily married to Ayesha since 2011 in which they’ve been blessed with three kids. Almost aborted, NBA SuperStar Sensation, Steph Curry said,“Being a father gives you something more to play for” (Source: Daily Citizen – Focus on The Family). This father of three is certainly taking care of his family. He has developed his skills and fulfilled his potential by living his dream of playing in the NBA. He’s also inspired youth and made his mark through a positive impact off the court as well. But thank God Steph’s mom, Sonya, courageously chose to give him life, which was the initial and all-important decision to make what followed, possible, including the accompanying success highlighted by hard work, dedication, commitment, the support of his family, teammates, coaches, and his faith in a God who loves him and has a plan for his life. Imagine this world without a Steph Curry. What would this world be like without you, the reader? This world would be a much different place.

RESOURCES:

1. “Almost Aborted, NBA Star Steph Curry: ‘Being a father gives you something more to play for,” by Paul Batura; Daily Citizen – Focus on The Family, 11/11/22.

2. “NBA star Stephen Curry’s mother reveals she almost aborted him,” by Nancy Flanders, National Right to Life News, 11/14/22.

3. “Stephen Curry,” by Wikipedia.

Bonus:

CRESENDO!!!

* In connection with the article above and on a related topic, Jason Jones (bio here and here), a film producer for the 2006 movie, Bella (info and film) was invited last month on May 9th to be the distinguished, guest speaker for the annual Right to Life – Lifespan Fundraising Dinner at the San Marino Club in Troy, MI to a nearly sold-out audience. Jason shared some amazing experiences and connections of people he knew. But he also shared a promotion of another film that he helped to produce. This isn’t just any film. We know that movies can be anywhere from 1.5 hrs to two, to even three hours long. But he produced a short film with subtitles that is only 15 minutes long. I recommend to watch it, and be sure to watch the film in it’s entirety which has quite a surprise ending. Enjoy the show by clicking on the link below 🙂

CRESENDO (2011)