Stephen Curry

Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry continued his eventful offseason by hosting the 2022 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night.

Coming off his fourth NBA championship and first Finals MVP, Curry is now the ninth athlete ever to host the awards show that recognizes the best and brightest from the sports world. When he was announced as the host, the 34-year-old said he planned on "delivering an exciting show for the fans while we celebrate the athletes who created the top moments of the year."

Of course, the first highlight of any awards show is the opening speech, and Curry didn't disappoint.

Here's a look at some of the best reactions on social media after Curry's opening monologue.

Curry was eventually joined on stage by comedian Jay Pharoah, and the two of them performed a musical number.

The opening speech was a solid start, but Curry has to stick the landing before we can truly judge him as a host. If the opening speech was any indication, Curry could potentially have a future in that role once his playing days are over.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry looks to get an edge wherever he can on the court, and that meticulous level of preparation extends off of it as well.

Curry told Complex's Zion Olojede he sought some guidance ahead of hosting this year's ESPY Awards:

When it comes to the hosting gig, obviously I'm nervous and excited. I don't really know what to expect. I actually tapped into Drake and Peyton Manning on what it's like, but I think once I get out there, I'm just going to have fun. I'll be prepared, I'm looking for the opportunity to be on that stage. I've been there many times, but I want to see the other side of what hosting is like.

While the two-time MVP didn't tip his hand as to what he'll be bringing to the table, he told Olojede it's important to have a "surprise element," and fans should expect some "good jokes."

Manning famously made a cutting joke at Kevin Durant's expense at the 2017 ESPYs, referencing his move to the Warriors.

Maybe the legendary quarterback suggested to Curry to push the envelope a bit when he's on stage.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry continues to climb the ranks of the greatest of all time, but he doesn't concern himself with any rankings.

Curry gave his thoughts on the ongoing debate to Zion Olojede of Complex:

I mean it’s for fans and for all the 'experts', I ain't even want to call them experts anymore but the talking heads that cover our game and it's their job to try to stir up drama when it comes to whose lists, whose rankings, who's the best currently and all that type of stuff. I think anybody who knows basketball knows that this is the way we talk about in terms of talking real basketball: there's a shortlist of guys in the league that every team would want and there's a shortlist of guys that impact winning and have done it consistently. When you're in that category whether it’s right now or all-time and you have the respect of your peers, that's the conversations we want to be having. Everybody's list is different, that's the beauty in it. We got 10 people and they'll have 10 different top lists. You'll crack one of them and let those conversations be what they are.

The 34-year-old won his fourth NBA title with the Warriors this season, taking home Finals MVP for the first time.

It adds to an individual resume that includes eight All-Star selections, two MVP awards and two scoring titles. He is also the all-time leader in made three-pointers with 3,117, passing Ray Allen last season.

Curry was named one of the top 75 players in NBA history during the 75th anniversary celebration last year, but he is in a much more exclusive group after his latest title run.

The guard is certainly headed to the Hall of Fame after his career comes to an end, although he'll let others debate exactly where he ranks among the best all-time.

He is still defending the 2017 Warriors as the top team in league history.

After saying in January that the squad would "absolutely" beat the 1996 Chicago Bulls, Curry told Olojede that the Warriors could also beat the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.

"Obviously we feel like we can win," Curry said. "I don’t know who would guard Shaq, but I don’t know who would guard me and Klay either. We rockin' with that. And three is better than two."

Fresh off winning his fourth NBA championship and first NBA Finals MVP, Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry backed his team when asked to give his take on a hypothetical series against the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.

In an interview with Complex's Zion Olojede, Curry was asked to pick who would win a seven-game series between the 2016-17 Warriors led by himself, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and the 2000-01 Lakers led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal:

"Between the '96 Bulls and the hypotheticals of a seven-game series, the 2001 Lakers and that hypothetical series, or every other hypothetical series that people say we should've lost because of an injury or because of whatever the case may be, those conversations are trivial. But at the end of the day, if you could match up in some alternate universe, us versus the 2001 Lakers, obviously we feel like we can win. I don't know who would guard Shaq, but I don't know who would guard me and Klay either. We rockin' with that. And three is better than two."

Both teams are considered two of the greatest of all time, featuring multiple current or future Hall of Famers, and they both won titles.

While the 2015-16 Warriors set the NBA record for most wins in a single regular season with 73, they shockingly fell to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

The Warriors then signed Durant in free agency, making the 2016-17 Dubs one of the most talented squads in NBA history.

They also dominated the league, going 67-15 during the regular season and 16-1 in the playoffs, including a 4-1 series win over the Cavs in the Finals, which concluded with Durant being named NBA Finals MVP.

As for the Lakers, the 2000-01 season marked their second of three consecutive NBA championships on the backs of the superstar duo of Kobe and Shaq.

Of that three-year stretch, 2000-01 was the Lakers' worst campaign in terms of regular-season record at 56-26, but like the 2016-17 Warriors, they lost just one playoff game en route to beating the Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals and winning a championship.

Shaq was named NBA Finals MVP, and he was virtually unstoppable in the playoffs that season, averaging 30.4 points and 15.4 rebounds, while Kobe added 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

To Curry's point, Shaq likely would have feasted on the 2016-17 Warriors since they didn't place much emphasis on protecting the paint and didn't have anyone capable of guarding him.

At the same time, that Warriors team had three of the best shooters ever in Curry, Thompson and Durant, and the Lakers could not have matched them in that regard, as Rick Fox and Derek Fisher were the only Lakers to average better than one three-pointer made per game that season at 1.4 and 1.3, respectively.

By comparison, Curry (4.1), Thompson (3.4) and Durant (1.9) all averaged more trifectas per game from the 2016-17 Warriors.

Both teams were dominant in their own ways, and it is nearly impossible to predict who would come out on top if they played since they had such different styles and played in different eras.

Regardless, they are two of the greatest teams of all time, and they deserve all of the accolades and praise they have received.

Steph Curry isn't just a Splash Brother on the court—he's one on the course as well.

Curry drained a 97-yard approach shot Friday at the 2022 American Century Championship.

The reigning Finals MVP is sitting in a tie for 16th place in the celebrity pro-am event, which features some of the top names in sports and entertainment.

Curry is a regular on the golf course during the offseason, calling the American Century event his "favorite week of the summer."

“It’s just fun,” Curry told reporters. “Beautiful scenery, the venue is amazing. It gives us the space to interact with fans, play golf, compete and bring our families. … It’s my favorite week of the summer.”

With a shot like that, it's not hard to see why he enjoys himself so much.

Stephen Curry will remain in the spotlight as the host for the 2022 ESPY awards on July 20:

"I've had the pleasure of attending The ESPYS but never imagined I'd have the privilege of hosting this special event," Curry said in a statement, via ESPN's Kendra Andrews. "As someone who loves the intersection of sports and entertainment, I look forward to delivering an exciting show for the fans while we celebrate the athletes who created the top moments of the year."

The Golden State Warriors star was already going to have a busy night as a nominee in several categories.

Not only is Curry a contender for Best NBA Player, he is a finalist for Best Male Athlete alongside Aaron Rodgers, Shohei Ohtani and Connor McDavid. He was also nominated for Best Record-Breaking Performance for passing Ray Allen for the most made three-pointers in NBA history.

It continues an exciting stretch for Curry, who led the Warriors to their fourth NBA title in eight years earlier this month. The eight-time All-Star was named Finals MVP for the first time in his career.

The 34-year-old will now get to show his personality off the court, following in the footsteps of other athletes who hosted the ESPYs, including Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Danica Patrick and the 2020 trio of Russell Wilson, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.

Golden State Warriors superstar and reigning NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry gave a proverbial tip of the cap to New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu on Saturday.

After knocking down a deep three to cement New York's 89-77 win over the Atlanta Dream on Friday, Ionescu did Curry's "night night" celebration:

The eight-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP liked what he saw, tweeting acknowledgement and a congratulatory message to Ionescu:

While Curry is a surefire future Hall of Famer, Ionescu is early in her WNBA career, although she is on a path to greatness.

The 24-year-old was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft following a dominant collegiate career at Oregon that saw her earn the 2020 Naismith Player of the Year award and set an all-time record for most career triple-doubles.

Injuries limited Ionescu to just three games as a rookie, and she struggled with offensive efficiency last season, but she has finally hit her stride in 2022.

Ionescu is averaging 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.3 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals in 18 games, plus she is shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc.

As a result, Ionescu was named an All-Star for the first time this season, perhaps foreshadowing many more All-Star nods in her future.