SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The self-identified "petty king" Stephen Curry was the "petty jester" during his ESPYS hosting gig on Wednesday night.
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Curry didn't wait long to roast LeBron James, the team Curry's Golden State Warriors vanquished in the 2022 NBA Finals and even James' own team.
Little more than a month after Curry matched James' championship total by winning his fourth NBA title, Curry opened his monologue by noting what separated him and the Los Angeles Lakers star.
"I am the second NBA player to host this awards show, which is kind of crazy to think about. LeBron James, he hosted this back in 2007 after losing in the NBA Finals," Curry said, nursing a drink in one hand and holding a microphone in another.
"So yes, you guessed it: This, uh, this feels better," Curry quipped.
Not content to joke about James in his own city, the green-suited Curry then shifted his attention to the Boston Celtics, joking that the Warriors' championship win over them last month was something the LA crowd could get behind.
"Speaking of the Celtics, Grant Williams is in the building. It's great to see you again, my man," Curry said to the Boston forward. "I know you like this color, I'll let you borrow it after I'm done. I might even let you wear a ring. We'll see, we'll see."
After imploring veteran teammate Andre Iguodala to forego an appearance "Dancing with the Stars" – a show which Curry joked had "so many potential" contestants in the ESPYS studio audience – for another year with the Warriors, Curry then set his sights on James' Lakers by way of the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
"It was so inspiring watching y'all play, watching y'all win a Super Bowl, watching y'all celebrate," Curry said of the Rams. "And it's just inspiring to see that strategy of buying old superstars pay off for a local team around here."
The Lakers missed the NBA playoffs last season, after acquiring former All-Stars Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan and Carmelo Anthony in the preceding offseason. Westbrook was the youngest of the group, turning 33 last season.
"Hey Mutumbo, where Mutombo at?" Curry said, looking for 56-year-old Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo in the ESPYS audience.
"I heard you're looking for a 10-day (contract). Yes, or 'no, no, no, no!' " Curry continued, doing his best Mutombo impression, wagging finger and all. "Hit up (Lakers General Manager) Rob Pelinka, and let him know, all right."
Curry's own teammates made for punch lines, too. In addition to the Iguodala crack, Curry joked that a season in which he won his fourth NBA championship, first NBA Finals MVP – "that little trophy everybody said I needed, I can't remember what it's called" – and also set the league's all-time 3-point record didn't grab nearly as many headlines as "The Draymond Green Show."
"It's been an amazing year, but somehow, you know, I'm still getting overshadowed," Curry said, pausing a beat before pointing at his teammate of a decade, "by Draymond Green's podcast."
"I can't even be mad at it," Curry added as Green reveled in the endorsement. It's a great show. It's a great show. Make sure you all like and subscribe, you know, like and subscribe. It's great."
Green returned the favor later in the show, "interrupting" Curry's hosting gig with a live cut-in to his podcast.
Curry got plenty of laughs at his family's expense as well, joking that he "finally" understood why Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and San Mateo native Tom Brady un-retired this offseason after Curry celebrated his three kids' birthdays in a two-week span.
Of all the "people who worked so hard to make this thing work" on Wednesday night, Curry said few worked harder than "the team that put Dell Curry's outfit together."
"Is that a suit with a bunny rabbit T-shirt on it?" Curry asked his father. "You're not coming on stage. You look great pops, you just hang out right there! You look great."
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