Few athletes in the history of sports have inspired and silenced crowds quite like Stephen Curry. No player in the league elicits more euphoria from home fans than the Golden State Warriors superstar, and his exploits as an arena-hushing heel were on epic display during Curry's 43-point masterpiece against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Clearly, Curry relishes the on-court attention that accompanies his status as an all-time great. Just because he's so confident and comfortable playing hero and villain in the NBA, though, doesn't mean that attitude extends to hosting the ESPYs.
Good thing Curry called a couple very famous friends to help calm his nerves before ESPN's 30th annual awards show on Wednesday night.
“When it comes to the hosting gig, obviously I’m nervous and excited. I don’t really know what to expect,” he said, per Zion Olojede of Complex. “I actually tapped into Drake and Peyton Manning on what it’s like but I think once I get out there, I’m just going to have fun. I’ll be prepared, I’m looking for the opportunity to be on that stage. I’ve been there many times but I want to see the other side of what hosting is like.”
Drake hosted the ESPYs in 2014, memorably bringing out multi-time Grammy award-winner Brian McKnight for a spoof song called “Side Pieces.” Manning followed three years later, using his trademark dry wit to poke fun at some of the world's best athletes, including then-Warriors Kevin Durant.
Expect Curry to engage in some similarly light humor on the ESPYs stage, perhaps even taking shots at some of his NBA rivals.
“You’re going to get good jokes, how about that? I don’t know who the targets will be. Obviously the ones that are close to me in basketball,” Curry said. “A few teammates I’ve had or people I know personally. That opens up the gates even more but I think either if you’re in the building at the ESPYs or a part of all the different storylines that have happened, all of those are on the table to go after with the jokes and the comedy. Obviously, there will be a little self-deprecation in there too so we are going to have some fun with it.”
The 2022 ESPY awards, hosted by Stephen Curry, begin on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. (PST).
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