SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Stephen Curry took the microphone midway through Golden State’s championship ring ceremony Tuesday night to deliver an impassioned plea in support of Brittney Griner as the WNBA star spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison.
“We want to continue to use our platform and opportunity to highlight a special member of the basketball community.” Today is Brittney Griner’s birthday, she’s 32 years old,” Curry told the opening night crowd before the defending champions hosted LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. “We want to continue to make her name known and pray… it’s been 243 days since she was illegally imprisoned in Russia. We hope she comes home soon, that everyone does their part to bring her home.”
The Warriors, long committed to social causes away from basketball, celebrated their fourth championship in eight years.
Griner is awaiting a hearing in Russia later this month on her appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.
She was convicted on August 4 after Russian police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Her lawyers said she was prescribed cannabis for pain. The WNBA star said she inadvertently packed them and had no criminal intent.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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