“You have to keep running. I always believed I was going to be safe”. Having possibly followed his own words, Rickey Henderson spent the better half of the 80s and ’90s building up himself as a renowned name in the world of baseball. His legacy continues to be cherished and honored today, as the 2x World Series Champion passed away on December 20. Amongst the tributes from MLB Hall of Famers and former teammates came reactions from athletes who have had nothing to do with the sport of baseball. Though he may not have lifted a bat to play at a professional level, Stephen Curry chose to mourn the legend’s passing over the one common connection they shared.

In the aftermath of the recent Warriors-Timberwolves matchup, the NBA All-Time Three-Point Leader granted an interview to the crew over at NBC Sports. As the Q&A session concluded, Stephen Curry took a moment to state, “I appreciate it. I know everybody’s talking about it, but major shoutout, condolences, to the Henderson family. Growing up, you know, as an adult in the Bay Area, especially what he did in Oakland, it resonates with me, you know, in terms of representing the Bay, and doing it at a legendary, iconic level. Nobody like him. And so, condolences to the whole family. I know the whole Bay Area’s mourns with him tonight”.

Rickey Henderson was born in Chicago and played for 9 different teams throughout his 25-year MLB career. Despite this, his prominence rose alongside the Oakland Athletics. It was the team that drafted him during the 1976 draft, the one to whom he kept coming back after a brief stint with other teams, and with whom he spent 11 years. Along with winning the 1989 World Series with the Athletics, his time with the Californian franchise saw him secure several individual accolades to his name too. As a result, when paying tribute to him, Athletics’ senior advisor Billy Beane, said in a statement “He was the greatest Oakland A of all time and will deservedly be remembered that way by fans of baseball across the world”.

Stephen Curry himself originated from Charlotte. However, the Bay Area was where he found individual success. His accomplishments allowed the Golden State Warriors to thrive. It ushered in the franchise’s ‘Golden’ era, in which they won 4 championship titles, and reached the playoffs several times.

Curry has previously not chosen to speak about Rickey Henderson. However, his longtime fans would be aware of his love for baseball. In fact, back in 2022, Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, partnered with the Oakland Athletics to host over 1,000 children during a matchup against the Houston Astros. Before the game began, the NBA player was in the practice nets. He was hitting a few shots and showing off his batting skills. Mark Kotsay, the Oakland Athletics’ general manager and Curry’s friend, suggested that Curry should play as the third batsman in the A’s lineup. Therefore, along with being his home franchise, the Oakland Athletics means something to Stephen Curry. Therefore, he certainly would not have been silent as the team honored one of their best!

Rickey Henderson’s impact on the Bay Area wasn’t something that solely resonated with the Warriors player. Even his head coach felt a connection with the late MLB star due to it.

Snubbing Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr compares Rickey Henderson and LeBron James in his emotional tribute: “One of those guys who was not human”

Before Stephen Curry got the chance, Steve Kerr addressed Rickey Henderson’s passing during the pre-game presser. Labelling it ‘shocking’ news, the Warriors head coach referred to the late MLB star as not only “One of all-time great baseball players” but also “one of the all-time great athletes in the history of our country”. When asked what it meant for him to watch Rickey Henderson play, Kerr smiled. He made a comparison. If the head coach was going to speak about this, then it was right to compare the baseball player with another renowned athlete. After all, it would help those who may not have known Henderson that well to relate and get a better understanding of his prowess level. However, the player Kerr chose to compare him with was not Stephen Curry!

“One of a kind,” said Kerr. “It’s like watching Bo Jackson or LeBron (James) or you know just one of those guys who was not human. He didn’t look like the rest of us… Such a unique athlete, player, personality.”

The world will remember an icon like Rickey Henderson. While we may mourn losing such an iconic figure, we can also celebrate the fact that someone like him existed to propel the level of not just the Oakland Athletics, but the MLB as a whole.