NBA legend Steph Curry is stepping into the acting scene with his role in “Mr. Throwback,” a series about a down-and-out memorabilia salesman seeking redemption by mending his past with Curry, a former sixth-grade teammate.
Steph Curry, born Wardell Stephen Curry II, has led the Warriors to multiple NBA championships, including in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Known for his incredible three-point shooting ability, Steph has set numerous records for three-pointers made in a season and is widely regarded as one of the best shooters ever.
After 15 years in the NBA, Steph Curry is starting to consider life beyond basketball and may pursue a career in acting.
Steph Curry Talks Possible Acting Career
When speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Steph opened up about his life after the NBA, revealing that he would “for sure” continue with acting gigs, something that “people love” because “it wasn’t always the case.”
“It wasn’t the case because I didn’t want to half-a– anything,” the NBA star said. “You don’t want to just not be prepared, not be polished and come with the right approach to it.”
Steph added, “I’ve done commercial shoots and been on sets and done it all to get reps, but [‘Mr. Throwback’] was the right story, it was the right cast, all the ingredients were there, and I had a window of time that I could actually do it.”
Steph Curry Talks ‘Mr. Throwback’
Styled as an “Office”-like mockumentary, the Peacock original series stars Stephen Curry as a fictionalized version of himself.
“It was obviously an amazingly fun experience,” he said of his new series. “If I’m not playing myself and doing something different, then that’s a different venture, and trying to get reps and make sure I present my best self in that front, I’m not going to do anything just to do it.”
In the show, Steph reconnects with Danny Grossman, played by Adam Pally from “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Danny, now struggling as a memorabilia dealer, turns to his former middle school teammate for assistance.
Who Helped Steph Curry Prepare For Acting?
Ayesha Curry, Steph Curry’s wife, is known for her work in television and as a public personality. She has made guest appearances on various TV shows such as “The Game” and “The Lion Guard.”
Her experience helped Steph transition into the acting world. “I got a little bit of training at home,” he said.
“My wife [Ayesha Curry], she’s been an actress for the longest time,” he told THR. “She did a movie last year with Lindsay Lohan [Netflix’s ‘Irish Wish’]. She was encouraging me to go on this journey, so when I’m done playing I’m hoping that there’s more opportunities to kind of expand there in front of the camera.”
Steph Curry Talks About His Biggest Adjustment Coming To Acting From The Athlete’s Perspective
Given Steph Curry’s high public profile and the distinct nature of the acting industry, the NBA star had to make some adjustments going into his role for “Mr. Throwback.”
“First, you’ve got to get the people that you work with right. Insofar as that and the shared mindset of how you’re going to do business and represent you in the room,” he told THR. “[Erick Peyton’s] job, and he says it a lot, is that you’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing this whole time.”
“It’s tough to do that because we’re doing so much, from me and my wife’s foundation to Unanimous, to trying to build Curry Brand, there’s a lot going on in different parts of the year, but everybody’s allowed my input and influence to give direction,” he added. “And then you go execute the plan, and then I’m in charge of putting the ball in the basket, so that the platform can continue to grow.”
Steph Curry’s foundation, “The Steph & Ayesha Curry Foundation”, is dedicated to supporting various charitable causes and making a positive impact in communities.
Steph Curry Talks Legacy And Impact
Many basketball legends, including Michael Jordan and Lebron James, have built a legacy outside of the NBA world, and Steph Curry wants to follow in their footsteps.
“It’s allowed me to kind of grow at a steady pace while I’m still playing so that the foundations are there in the places that I know I want to be a part of in the post-career landscape for me,” he said. “Legacy, impact, it all matters. I wanted to take some swings at the plate while I’m still going.”
“You see what Michael [Jordan]’s done, you see what Bron [LeBron James] has done, you see other guys who stayed true to who they are and their personalities and where they want to do it, but have been pretty active while they were playing,” Steph added. “That gave me a little confidence that you can do it yourself.”
“Mr. Throwback” is streaming on Peacock.
