On Monday afternoon, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was named NBA MVP for the first time in his career. The league held a press conference in the Bay Area for his award ceremony with Curry giving an inspirational speech, thanking everyone that helped him along the way and fielding questions from the media.
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Not only did Curry field many different questions from the media, but unexpectedly, teammate Draymond Green grabbed the microphone. Green called out his teammate by using Kobe Bryant as an example of a former MVP that awarded his teammates with an expensive gift, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Luke Walton told Draymond Green that @kobebryant gave his teammates watches when he won #MVP, so Green asked Curry what their gift is?
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) May 4, 2015
Curry responded to Green calling him out by saying the following, via Winters:
Steph Curry responding to Green(on @NBATV): "Don't worry, I don't know what kind of watches they were, but I'll beat that (Kobe's) gift"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) May 4, 2015
Back in 2008, Kobe’s teammate, and now current Warriors assistant coach, Luke Walton, paved the way for Green calling out Bryant at his MVP presser at the Staples Center:
The only major difference between Bryant and Curry when they won the MVP award is the amount of money in their bank accounts. Curry made only $10.6 million this season, an incredible bargain for the Warriors, while in 2007-08 when Kobe won his award he was pulling in $19.4 million and had been making $10 million or more every season leading up to that season since 2000-01.
It’s amazing to think Curry is now considered a superstar in this league along with having an MVP award to his credit and is under contract for two more seasons at a price many teams pay for a veteran role player. Curry will make $11.3 million next year and $12.1 million the year after.
Fortunately, Curry has the endorsement deals rolling in and probably won’t have too much trouble topping Kobe’s gift to his teammates.
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