“Can Be Overwhelming”: Shaq’s Mama Lucille & Steph Curry’s Mom Join Forces to Dish Out Intimate Details of Their Children & More

We often talk about the role of wives in the lives of basketball players. LeBron’s Savannah, Steph‘s Ayesha, AD’s Marlen, Draymond’s Hazel, Giannis’ Mariah, Nikola’s Natalija, and many more. All of these women have been a source of incredible mental fortitude during the turbulent periods of their spouses. They are also right there to celebrate the great moments in their lives. But what about those women who paved the way for these young boys to become accomplished men?

Yes, we are talking about the mothers who sacrificed a lot and spent a good chunk of their lives ensuring their children lived a comfortable life. Sharing their slate for 2024, TV One Networks has another set of engrossing and inspiring shows for the year. One of them in particular will be of much interest to the basketball community around the world; Raising Fame. The show is hosted by none other than Lucille O’Neal and Sonya Curry; two women, or rather mothers, who are very familiar with the NBA world. Of course, all of you would have put two and two together, but for those who might be new to the sport, Lucille is the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal‘s mother, and Sonya is the parent of the Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and his brother, Seth Curry.

Set to launch in July, Sonya gives a glimpse of what brought this to fruition. “It can be overwhelming… [So] for us, it was creating a community of fellowship to say, ‘You’re not in this alone. You don’t have to recreate the will. There’s somebody else who understands where you are, and you can tell your story,'” she explained.

Those who know, know. Up until yesterday, it was just another woman and child. All of a sudden, they have agents, reporters, photographers, brand executives, etc. knocking at their doors. Or, as Mama Curry says, “people who just want something from them all the time”, and Sonya naturally knows very well about this.

Stephen Curry’s mom saw the struggles of her son at his worst and how success changed it all

Although Steph’s story wouldn’t fall under the same umbrella as that of Shaq or Bron, the four-time champion had his own battles to overcome. Mocked, cast aside, and overlooked for his diminutive stature, Stephen Curry was offered just a walk-on spot at his father’s alma mater, disregarding Curry Sr.’s storied career at Virginia Tech. All they saw was a small, slender, 160-pound boy; nothing further mattered.

Davidson, in stark contrast, saw the determined and driven player behind that willowy frame and pursued him. They knew that Curry would be capable of great things that no one foresaw, and they couldn’t have been more right. In his documentary, Stephen Curry: Underrated, the 10x All-Star recounts a message his then-coach, Bobby McKillop, said. “Not only do I think, you know, you’re capable of being, successful at this level, but I don’t need you to be anything other than yourself in that process.”

That was some major foresight about a teenager who was still contemplating taking the big plunge. The trust and confidence McKillop had in him went a long way in shaping ‘Chef Curry’ to become the legend that he is now. Watching it all, waiting with bated breath to offer a helping hand or jump in to catch her son were he ever to fall, was Sonya Curry.

Raising Fame, therefore, is not just a program aimed at mothers. It is for “guardians, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even older siblings who have had to raise these exceptional individuals.” They are the true heroes behind the men people around the world idolize and look up to. But we can be sure there will be some hilarious stories or moments that we would never have heard or read anywhere.