PICTURE: NBA superstar Steph Curry pays homage to Rickey Henderson after MLB icon dies at 65
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry paid tribute to the late Rickey Henderson. The MLB icon and all-time leading base-stealer passed away at the age of 65 on Saturday, and Curry mirrored his iconic celebration before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Curry plays for the Warriors, who previously played home games in Oakland before moving to San Francisco. Henderson played for a few teams, but he was most notable for his time with the Oakland Athletics. Curry said of Henderson, via MLB:
“Major shout out, condolences to the entire Henderson family. Growing up, as an adult in the Bay Area, especially what he did in Oakland, it resonates for me in terms of representing the Bay at a legendary, iconic level. Nobody like him.”
Of course, the A's are now moving out of Oakland as the Warriors (and Las Vegas Raiders) did, but Curry and Henderson were both big parts of the Oakland-area sports scene. As a result, Curry knows what the MLB legend meant to the local fans and his team, so he gave a tribute in pre-game warmups.
Curry had stellar outing after honoring Henderson, posting 31 points, 10 assists, and three rebounds in 34 minutes during a 113-103 win over the Timberwolves.
Rickey Henderson's wife mourns death of MLB icon
Rickey Henderson died at 65. No cause of death was revealed in the official statement, but his surviving wife and three daughters offered up a statement mourning the loss.
Via ESPN, they said:
"A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind."
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also released a statement. He said Henderson was firmly in mind when the league decided to alter base sizes to influence more base-stealing.
Manfred also said:
"Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey's family, his friends and former teammates, A's fans and baseball fans everywhere."
Henderson played with the Athletics for 14 years. He also spent five seasons with the New York Yankees, three with the San Diego Padres, two with the New York Mets, and one with the following: Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.