One of the things that continually astounds me is how so many things seem to fit together — how we can find great learning in one area that seems totally unrelated to another, and yet, the lesson totally applies on a broader scale. I think of it first like an ongoing “Seinfeld” episode, a scenario in which all things will eventually relate, whether it be mind-blowingly good soup or Kramer losing Elaine’s armoire or Jerry’s girlfriend’s infuriating “schmoopie” routine; it all fits. On another hand, I think of it more deeply as the creative, powerful, amazing hand of God — setting the world up, giving us multiple ways in which to learn, grow, and wise up a little. Both God and Seinfeld make this semi-humble blogger smile.
One of those areas, no less, in which I often see broader lessons unfolding is via athletics — which is why I often preface posts laced with sport references as “not a sports post”; in other words, a deeper, greater learning exists. I see this now on the professional hardwood…
In the port city of Oakland, California, there is one team that stands out — not only in the state’s eighth largest city — but across the country and in the NBA. Here is the home for the Golden State Warriors… a team that originated 70 seasons ago in Philadelphia… a team that has a career winning percentage of just over 47%.
Last year the Warriors won the NBA championship. They accomplished such with many talented players on their young roster — including Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala — but they are clearly led by the almost high-school-looking Stephen Curry, a humble, wholesome, joy-filled, scrawny star who has an uncanny ability to seemingly make three-pointers from anywhere on the court. He has been so successful that even though he doesn’t have the stereotypical physical stature of other stars, Curry won last year’s NBA MVP and the ESPYs Best Male Athlete award.
Curry’s success has led directly to the team’s success. After last season’s championship, the Warriors began this year’s 82 game season by winning an unprecedented 23 games. As of this posting — having played 60 games already — they have only lost 5 games. If they continue this pace, they will have the best record in NBA history.
Hence, to the broader lesson…
Every NBA team has an annual salary cap. The primary distribution of the Golden State Warriors is as follows:
(1) Klay Thompson — $15.5 million
(2) Draymond Green — $14.3 million
(3) Andrew Bogut — $12.0 million
(4) Andre Iguodala — $11.7 million
And…
(5) Stephen Curry — $11.3 million
Note that Curry currently makes the fifth most amount of money on his team — even though he is clearly the team’s best player… fifth most.
Consistent with that humble and wholesome character — which is affirmed by those who know him best — Curry doesn’t complain. In fact, it’s quite possible that it doesn’t bother him. He agreed to a wage; he knows he’s been blessed; that’s enough for him. As teammate Shaun Livingston said, “His [Curry’s] faith, his beliefs and his value system [are] unprecedented.”
One of the reasons teams, relationships, etc. don’t stay together is because individuals often believe they are entitled to something more… “I deserve better… I deserve more… I have a right to it.” An individual demandingness and entitlement arises that can be so paralyzing and unhealthy. That often leads to a team or relationship’s downfall… although not so fast for the Golden State Warriors.
Stephen Curry, by all accounts, at least compared to his peers, deserves more money. But to Curry, that is not a priority. How then can teammates make it a priority? How do they justify any attitude of entitlement when the one who most clearly could demand more, is humble enough to choose not to?
Humility, my friends, is always attractive. It, too, always makes us smile.
Respectfully…
AR