Stephen Curry Steps In As A Host For 2022 ESPY Awards — All Attention To Brittney Griner’s Return
Wednesday was Stephen Curry’s day.
The 34-year-old basketball pro bagged several honors at the 2022 ESPY Awards while the Golden State Warriors were at his back. He won ESPYS for Best NBA Player and Best Record-Breaking Performance.
Curry was the host of the show as well — he started hosting the show with a joke about LeBron James at the Dolby Theater, Los Angeles. He said, ‘I’m the second NBA player to host this award show, which is crazy to think about.’
He added;
“LeBron James, he hosted this award show back in 2007, after losing in the NBA Finals,” he continued before taking a sip of his drink. “So yes, you guessed it, this feels better, this feels better.”
The Award show was much more than expected and exceptional.
Bringing the world’s attention to Brittney Griner was the main plot of Curry on Wednesday. Griner is a WNBA player now detained in Russia for drug charges. Along with Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, Curry addressed the 6 feet 9 inches tall WNBA star.
Curry mentioned, ‘But as we hope for the best, we urge the entire global sports community to stay energized on her behalf.’
He added, ‘She’s one of us, the team of athletes in this room tonight and all over the world. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict.’
Similarly, Diggins-Smith stated;
‘It’s been 153 nights now that BG has been wrongfully detained thousands of miles away from home, away from her family, away from her friends, away from her team. Throughout that time, we’ve kept her in our thoughts and hearts even though we know that ain’t enough to bring her home, y’all.’
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, applauded and welcomed the urge of the basketball players.
In addition, Megan Rapinoe, who received the ESPYS award for Best Play, cited, ‘I think honestly what we’ve witnessed tonight is the importance of sport and how much we can bring and how much we can get done in the world; with our collective power.’ Furthermore, she added that every time people talk about Griner, it’s not just an issue; it is pressure on the administration and Russia.
Griner was arrested in June 2022 — she was in Russia to play her WNBA off-season. On June 14, a Russian outlet named TASS mentioned that Russia was ready to trade the WNBA star for an arms trafficker, Viktor Bout serving a 25 years sentence in the United States.
The United State Department has not commented on the speculated statement.
Griner’s arrest in Russia is labeled as wrongful detention. Likewise, fans are already on the verge of their speculations of Griner being the victim of gender inequality. They said that Griner’s detainment was initially muted.
Stephen Curry’s hosting in ESPYS brought the issue into the media after two months. He was the plan ESPN announced on June 29, citing him as a host of the 30th edition of ESPYS.
He mentioned his auspicious role, ‘I’ve had the pleasure of attending The ESPYS but never imagined I’d have the privilege of hosting this special event.’
His wife, Ayesha, and daughters, Riley, and Ryan, joined him as he hosted the ESPYS. The Warriors star donned a white turtleneck sweater and a jet-black jacket with a matching pair of pants and leather boots.
Similarly, Ayesha accompanied him in a lengthy tails black and white dress. High-heeled shoes, sparkling earrings, and a necklace gave a golden touch to her beauty.
