Every athlete in the world has their own set of pregame traditions that they carry with them forever. It holds significant meaning to them, and these extraordinary men and women strongly believe in the power they carry. Basketball isn’t any different, either. Stephen Curry is one of the early practitioners of the same. You might have noticed, many times, that there is always this little Sharpie scribble on Curry’s shoes when he takes the floor.

Of course, Steph fans already know what it says – “I can do all things,” a shortened version of his favorite Bible verse. It has become quite a routine cycle that everyone has simply accepted it as one would an everyday task.

However, for Steph Curry, those five words were a lifeline when he set out to face the unforgiving world. And right now, a source of inspiration and a reminder of what he went through to get here. A reminder to stay grounded, despite the mountain of achievements, on and off the court. So why don’t we take you, once more, to the reason behind the 4x champion’s actions?

In a 2017 interview with Complex, No. 30 revealed what prompted him to start this tradition. “My mom texted me before my first practice my freshman year. Her favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28, ‘All things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.'”

“She had sent me that verse in a text message as an encouragement and inspiration for my college career. She challenged me to kind of find something that I could count on to give me that strength, focus, and belief in myself as I embarked on that new challenge,” he reminisced.

And where did he land? In Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And it’s the shorter version that we all see on his shoes, written with a sharpie. Given the kind of journey he had to the NBA, it truly does leave many in wondrous admiration for the man who was always ‘underrated’ and ‘overlooked’.

But is Chef Curry the only athlete with this tradition?

Aside from Stephen Curry, which other NBA players have special Sharpie messages on their kicks?

LeBron James might be a little late to the trend, but he certainly leads with the most notes. As of 2020, the man has written close to 15 names or messages on his sneakers. The permanent ones are, of course, the names of his wife, children, and mother. But the variations include #SFG, #Fab5, #4HM, #RWTW, “Man In The Arena”, Justice for George Floyd + Breonna Taylor, 8 • 24 • 2 ♡, #RevengeSeason, TheKidFromAkron, More Than !!, “I Promise”, 330, Rat Pack. 

Yup, these are really some of the notable notes, names, and acronyms he’s penned over the years! Of course, some of them are self-explanatory and a breeze for all the LeBron fans. But for those not too much in touch with James’ likes, here’s a quick explanation.

SFG is a short form of his mantra, “Strive for Greatness.” The Fab5 and 4HM are a tribute to his high-school lineup and the Four Horsemen – his close circle of friends when he entered the league. As for RWTW, it’s nothing more than a simple slogan shared by his business partners and friends, Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Paul Rivera, and others – “Roll with the winners”. The Rat Pack is yet another synonym for his close friends.

The Chicago Bulls guard, Jevon Carter, is another player who could probably give Bron a run for his money. But Carter’s shoes were filled with names of the victims of police brutality and gun violence. While he kept changing the names on each of the pairs, he wore in the 2020 Orlando Bubble, the one consistent aspect was two words – “ALL KILLED.”

And then we have one of the flashiest and most fashionable players in the league, Russell Westbrook.

Russ, though, keeps it simple. One of the scribbles is a tribute to his childhood friend and teammate who left this world too soon – KB3. Khelcey Barrs III passed away at the young age of 16 during a pickup game in 2004 as he suddenly collapsed on the court. It was later confirmed that Barrs suffered from an enlarged heart.

Aside from that, he also added another phrase: Why not? It was a testament to his confident, outgoing personality, which later became the name of his foundation in 2012. We know there is more to go around, but we are just going to stop with these three, and of course, Stephen Curry.

However, do let us know your favorite NBA player’s favorite Sharpie scribble. And if they are not here, do drop their names and messages in the comments.

Before you go, though, be sure to check this video of Leonard Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe. Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!