CURRY BREAKS DOWN AFTER DAUGHTER’S QUESTION: IF YOU COULD GO BACK WOULD YOU CHOOSE ME OR BASKETBALL?
A Father’s Choice: Love Beyond the Game
Above the cloudy skies of San Francisco, Steph Curry found himself in a moment of rare vulnerability, facing one of the greatest dilemmas of his life. As the sun began to set, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink, Curry sat with his daughter Riley at the Twin Peaks viewpoint. The day had been perfect—a rare, complete day together without the demands of training, games, or commercial commitments. Just father and daughter exploring the city they called home.
As they sat on a bench, Riley, 11 years old, swung her feet that couldn’t quite reach the ground. Her small fingers nervously played with a colorful friendship bracelet she had made at school that week. Despite the day’s perfection, something weighed in the air. Riley wasn’t her usual talkative self, and Curry noticed her rehearsing something important in her mind.
Two weeks prior, during a five-game road trip, Curry remembered a video call with Riley. She had shown him a drawing she made at school of their family watching a basketball game on TV, with a small Curry drawn on the court. “This is how we’re usually together, right Daddy?” she had said, without malice, just stating a fact.
“Daddy,” Riley’s voice brought him back to the present. “Yes, Princess?” Curry replied, sensing the tension in his daughter’s shoulders. Riley finally raised her gaze, meeting his eyes. “If you could go back in time,” she hesitated, “would you choose basketball or me?”
The question hit Curry like a physical blow. Memories flashed through his mind—the ninth birthday he missed because of the NBA finals, the dance recital where Riley looked for him in the audience, finding only an empty seat next to her mother, Ayesha, and the countless nights when he could only say goodnight over the phone. The weight of Riley’s simple but profound question was immense.
Curry took a deep breath, turned completely to Riley, and took her small hands in his. “Riley, I want to tell you a story,” he began, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. He shared his childhood dream of playing in the NBA like his father, Dell Curry. Despite being told he was too small, his parents never doubted him. They sacrificed time, money, and comfort to support his dream.
“But then something happened that changed everything,” Curry continued. “You were born.” Basketball was no longer the most important thing in the world—it was Riley, her smile, her first steps, every little thing she did. Curry showed Riley the small inscription inside his shoe—her initials, RC. “Since you were born, I carry your initials with me in every game,” he explained.
“When you ask me if I would choose basketball or you,” Curry continued, “I need you to understand something important about dreams and sacrifices.” He shared a story about a young girl named Sophia, who found strength in his games during her battle with illness. “When I’m playing, I’m not just playing for myself. I’m showing children like you and Sophia that they can overcome any obstacle.”
Curry explained the concept of legacy to Riley, emphasizing that people remember the impact he had on their lives, not just his achievements on the court. “Through basketball, I try to teach values like hard work, perseverance, and humility,” he said. He admitted to missing important moments in Riley’s life but promised to strive for better balance moving forward.
“There’s something I’ve learned over time,” Curry said. “It’s not about choosing between two things you love, but about discovering how to love both in the right way.” He assured Riley that being her father was his greatest victory and that he carried her with him always.
As the sky darkened and stars filled the night, Curry and Riley shared a moment of mutual understanding. With hands intertwined, they began walking back to the car, ready for a new chapter in their lives—a chapter where basketball and family would coexist in harmony, each reinforcing the value of the other.