We believe there’s a superhero in each of us. True Superheroes celebrates people who’ve overcome adversity, made amazing contributions to society, and inspired others to do the same. Each week we nominate people in different fields. This week we focus on Basketball!
Steph Curry
Nobody gave Steph Curry a chance when he was just a short, skinny kid starting out in high school, but he proved the scouts spectacularly wrong and is now firmly established as the greatest shooter in NBA history, a three point machine whose potency from range has changed the way basketball is played. Now he’s using that success to give other underdogs a sporting chance, working to provide education, meals and healthcare for kids around the globe.
The greatest sporting talent of a generation didn’t just have to overcome a troubled childhood, he also faced the biggest challenge in American sports for half a century - bringing a championship to a city whose sporting history was almost entirely defined by failure. LeBron’s turbulent on-off love affair with Cleveland continues to this day, but no matter where he’s playing, he’s always giving back to the community that raised him.
When the most successful player in the history of the women’s game announced she was retiring at the peak of her career, the world of basketball was stunned. What happened next was even more incredible: Maya swapped the court for the courtroom, and successfully campaigned for the release of her friend Jonathan Irons, who was serving a 50 year jail sentence for a crime he did not commit. The pair are now a husband and wife team, continuing to fight for justice.
