When his playing days are over one day, Steph Curry could join a long line of former athletes turned politicians.
Curry, who’s trying to will the Warriors to the playoffs in his 10th All-Star season, didn’t rule out a future run for political office in a sit-down interview with CBS last week.
“I have an interest in leveraging every part of my influence for good in the way that I can, so if that’s the way to do it…” Curry said when asked if he’s interested in politics.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a run for president, he said. And given the 36-year-old is still among the best players in the NBA, any future career in politics isn’t imminent.
But even the prospect of a future Curry campaign is nonetheless noteworthy. As a high-profile athlete, Curry’s political aspirations are far from unprecedented: Former Dodger Steve Garvey, the latest former sports star to run for office, is currently campaigning for one of California’s U.S. Senate seats.
Three political experts interviewed for this story had similar takeaways to Curry’s interest in politics: He’d have a great foundation to build from if he decided to run, there are blueprints for him to follow, and it would be foolish to discount him at his word.
“I wouldn’t underestimate him,” said Dan Schnur, a political science professor at USC and UC Berkeley. “Don’t underestimate the importance of what he and his wife have already done. That’s the difference between a basketball player who thinks it might be fun to be a politician and someone who happens to play basketball and has a sincere commitment to the community.”
Voters may not cast a ballot for him just because he’s Steph Curry; many would want to know he’s serious about serving his constituency. Curry’s history of civic engagement is a factor, Schnur said. He and his wife, Ayesha, started the Eat, Play, Learn Foundation that is devoted to ending childhood hunger, increasing access to quality education and encouraging children to stay active in Oakland. As of 2022, Curry is a registered Democrat.
Schnur worked on four Republican presidential and three gubernatorial campaigns, earning a reputation as one of California’s leading political strategists. The biggest strength Curry would have working for him is his name recognition, Schnur said. The four-time NBA champion is a global superstar from his basketball career, and running for office would instantly shine a different spotlight on him.
But the challenge would be what to do with the attention.
“His basketball career gives him a window of opportunity to talk to voters,” Schnur said. “Especially to people who usually aren’t into politics. But the challenge is: How do you fill that (opportunity)?”
Which issues Curry chooses to platform are mostly unknown. But there are some basic facts that hint at what Curry the candidate would stand for.
Curry endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020. He supported an election reform bill aimed at expanding voting rights, and has a relationship with former president Barack Obama. He’s also an outspoken man of faith who has called Donald Trump a “threat,” and an author of two children’s books with uplifting themes.
Curry’s opposition last year to a multifamily housing plan near their Atherton home, which drew criticism from the left, would also be on his record.
The Warriors legend wouldn’t be the first athlete to enter the political realm. This year, former NFL linebacker Colin Allred, already a U.S. Representative, is challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Garvey faces an uphill battle against Adam Schiff, the incumbent Democrat senator in California. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly considered NFL quarterback and former Cal star Aaron Rodgers to be on his presidential ticket.
Former NBA All-Stars have also done it before: Kevin Johnson served as mayor of Sacramento. Dave Bing was Detroit’s mayor. Bill Bradley, an All-Star in 1973, held a U.S. Senate seat for three terms and ran for president in 2000.
Schnur shared a famous story of Bradley being hesitant to exploit his NBA career in political ads, refusing to include his Knicks highlights. He compromised by shooting a wad of paper into a wastebasket at the end of one commercial, nodding to his basketball history but not hitting voters over the head with it. Curry might have to similarly divorce from his playing career in order to gain credibility.
But there’s a different analog that could be relevant for Curry.
“Look, here’s the story: If Steph’s really interested in this, he needs to pay attention to the way Arnold did it,” said Stanford political science professor Bruce Cain.
Schwarzenegger, the experts noted, dipped his toes into political waters before running for governor of California. The bodybuilder and movie star served as chairman of President George H.W. Bush’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a position he later held for Gov. Pete Wilson. He also supported an after-school education program ballot measure.
Political consultant Rob Stutzman, who worked on Schwarzenegger’s recall campaign and then as his deputy chief of staff, added that Schwarzenegger surrounded himself with advisers like Warren Buffett and George Shultz to ease the transition from the entertainment industry to politics.
“There’s some things there that if (Curry) wanted to embark on the path that Arnold took that he could learn from,” Stutzman said.
If there were a political fantasy draft among athletes, Curry would probably be a top pick. He has a seemingly universally positive approval rating among basketball fans, has avoided major controversy and has a relatable, inspiring rise to prominence.
As Cain said, name recognition plus money is a “good start.” Curry’s also a winner, an intangible attribute Stutzman said helps in politics.
“Curry is one of those megastar athletes that transcends their sport,” Stutzman said. “He’s a recognizable cultural person and has a lot of positivity attached to him. If it’s something he’s serious about, I would think it’s plausible that he could have some success entering into politics.”
Curry’s heart is also, by all accounts, in the right place. Asked if he was put on the spot by the question about his political ambitions in the CBS interview, Curry doubled down. His answer was honest.
“I haven’t thought about it at all other than if the opportunity presented itself,” Curry said last week. “I don’t know what the pipeline is to even be in that position. But my answer was made because I have the interest in leveraging my platform in the greatest way I know how. To continue to do things that create opportunity, create meaningful change for the people who need it.
“Whether that’s in politics or out of politics, whatever the right moves are whenever basketball’s done, I’m going to do it.”
As Curry walked away from that media scrum, a reporter playfully asked if he’d name head coach Steve Kerr as his running mate.
“Without question,” Curry quipped.