Four-time NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP and Davidson College graduate Stephen Curry can now add another accolade to an already impressive list of accomplishments: recipient of the Key to the City of Charlotte.
The Golden State Warriors guard and Charlottean was awarded the key by Mayor Vi Lyles in a ceremony at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center on Thursday.
"Charlotte is in my blood. It's in my DNA," Curry said. "I'm so proud. When anybody asks, 'Where are you from?' I wasn't born here, but I am from Charlotte. Best 21 years of my life — spent it here, and I carry it with me everywhere I go."
The Key to the City honors individuals who have inspired and positively impacted the people of Charlotte and beyond.
"I am just so proud of the way Steph has accomplished his amazing legacy. You do it with style, class, humility, and a lot of love for your faith and your family," Lyles said. "Just walk into any gym and you will see kids wearing his jersey, trying to copy his moves and his shooting style. He's been an inspiration to many."
Also there to honor Curry was Shonn Brown, Curry's high school basketball coach at Charlotte Christian School, as well as retired Carolinas Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis who received the Key to the City in 2015.
The award from the City of Charlotte comes after Curry received his diploma from Davidson College, was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame and had his jersey number retired Wednesday – 13 years after entering the NBA. Curry graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in sociology, but could not attend the graduation ceremony as he prepared for the Western Conference finals.
Previous Key to the City recipients include musician Common in 2020, musician Anthony Hamilton in 2019, Davis in 2015, and NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson in 2014.