Steph Curry Gives Stranded Woman a Ride, 3 Years Later She Finds Out Who He Really Is
.
.
.
It was a chilly November evening in the Bay Area, the kind of cold that seeped through even the warmest coats. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors’ basketball star, had just finished a rigorous practice session and was heading home. Driving his sleek car along the quieter suburban routes to avoid the spotlight, Steph noticed something unusual ahead—a woman stranded by the roadside, waving hesitantly. Steam billowed from her car’s hood, an unmistakable sign of trouble.
Most cars whizzed past without a second glance, but not Steph. He couldn’t. His parents had instilled in him the value of helping others, and this moment was no exception. Little did he know, this simple act of kindness would change a life forever.
Steph pulled over, rolled down his window, and asked, “Need some help?”
The woman, visibly frustrated and shivering in the cold, nodded. Her name was Elena, a single mother trying to get home after grocery shopping. Her car had broken down, and in an area with poor cell service, she had no way to call for assistance. Despite not being a mechanic, Steph inspected the engine. When it became clear the problem was beyond his expertise, he offered her a ride.
Elena hesitated at first. She didn’t recognize him, and trusting a stranger wasn’t easy. But Steph’s warm demeanor reassured her. She locked her car, gathered her groceries, and climbed into his vehicle.
“Where are you headed?” Steph asked, turning up the heater.
“About 15 minutes away,” Elena replied, grateful for the warmth.
As they drove, Elena shared a bit about her life, mentioning her seven-year-old son, Max, who adored basketball—especially Steph Curry. Steph grinned but didn’t reveal his identity. Instead, he asked more about Max, offering general basketball tips that made Elena smile.
When they arrived at her home, Elena thanked him profusely, asking how she could repay him. Steph waved her off with a smile. “Just take care of your son,” he said, handing her his contact information in case she needed help with her car.
The next day, Elena received an unexpected call. A tow service informed her that her car had been repaired, and the cost was fully covered. Alongside the receipt was a note: “Pay it forward when you can.”
Elena was stunned. Struggling to make ends meet as a single mother, this act of generosity was a lifeline. Yet, she still had no idea who her kind stranger was.
Three years passed, and life settled into a steady rhythm for Elena. Max, now ten, was thriving and more passionate than ever about basketball. Every evening, he practiced outside, mimicking Steph Curry’s moves and shouting his name with every pretend game-winning shot.
One day, Elena received an invitation to a Golden State Warriors charity event, organized to support single parents and underserved communities. A colleague had nominated her to share her story. Nervous but excited, she accepted.
At the event, Elena recounted the story of the stranger who had helped her three years ago. “He didn’t have to stop,” she said, her voice steady. “He didn’t have to help me. But he did. And that act of kindness changed my life.”
The audience applauded warmly. In the front row, one man clapped louder than the rest—Steph Curry.
After her speech, Steph approached Elena backstage. “Excuse me,” he said, smiling. “Your story tonight was inspiring.”
Elena smiled politely, still not recognizing him.
Steph extended his hand. “I think we’ve met before,” he said. “About three years ago, you had car trouble.”
The realization hit Elena like a tidal wave. “It was you,” she gasped.
“Guilty as charged,” Steph replied with a chuckle.
The two talked, catching up on how their lives had changed. Steph promised to send tickets for Elena and Max to attend a Warriors game. True to his word, they sat courtside a week later. Max’s excitement was palpable, and after the game, Steph invited him onto the court.
For Elena, it wasn’t just about meeting a celebrity or attending a game—it was about seeing her son’s dreams come alive.
The ripple effect of Steph’s kindness didn’t stop there. Inspired by his generosity, Elena began volunteering with local organizations, mentoring single mothers. She shared her story widely, emphasizing the transformative power of compassion.
Eventually, Steph and his wife, Ayesha, invited Elena to help shape a program supporting single parents. Elena became a mentor, guiding others through challenges she once faced.
Years later, Max earned a basketball scholarship at a prestigious university. At his first game, Elena and Steph sat in the crowd, cheering him on.
Reflecting on their journey, Elena marveled at how one act of kindness had changed everything. “You didn’t just help me,” she told Steph. “You started something. Kindness isn’t just an action—it’s a movement that keeps going as long as we pass it on.”
And so, the ripple grew, touching lives in ways no one could have imagined.
SEE MORE: LeBron James says he ‘absolutely’ considered swapping the NBA for the NFL during the 2011 lockout
LeBron James has achieved almost everything you can in the NBA. But for a brief moment, it could’ve been a very different story.
James is a well-known, passionate NFL fan – he has been seen throughout the years at games involving his hometown Cleveland Browns – but during the 2011 NBA lockout, he “absolutely” considered switching the hardwood for the gridiron.
“I didn’t know when we were going to make the deal with the owners and get our league back going,” James said on Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Super Bowl-winning brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. “So I actually thought about it a little bit back then.
“I was still young enough to get out there with y’all. That’s the only time I’ve seriously considered it. I’ve had serious dreams about this sh*t all the time. And in my dream, the ball is never kicked off. It’s me in the warmups, it’s me coming out, running my routes and right when the game starts, I f**king wake up or some sh*t. That lets me know I’m not supposed to be out there.”
NBA action stopped in 2011 due to a lockout.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
James is one of basketball’s greatest ever players, but before he was drafted into the NBA in 2003, he was a star at the high school level in both football and hoops.
He led St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to three basketball state championships while also playing wide receiver for the school, being named First Team All-State in his sophomore year.
James was even the subject of offers from some of college football’s biggest names, recalling that then-Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel’s attempted to recruit him to be a dual-sport athlete before James entered the NBA draft. He was also courted by Urban Meyer, according to ESPN.
“I walked into the school (St. Vincent-St. Mary High), the coach, Jim Meyer, great guy, probably in 1998 or ’99, and he said: ‘Hey, come here a minute. I want to show you this. What do you think of this kid?’” Urban Meyer said, according to ESPN. “I started watching the video, and I was like: ‘Oh, my God.’ He was six-foot-whatever, obviously real big back then, too.
“He asked me what I thought and I said: ‘I want to offer him right now. Who is he?’” he continued, hoping to recruit James to Notre Dame where Meyer was the wide receivers coach at the time.
Eventually, James chose a career involving hoops rather than goallines but the thought has apparently always lingered in his head.
When asked who he imagined he could have compared to if he had chosen the NFL, James highlighted some legends.
“Probably a mix between (four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski) and Randy Moss, but he’s a lot smaller than me,” the 40-year-old explained. “He runs a lot faster than me, but he’s a lot smaller than me, but like Megatron (three-time first-team All Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson), we have that same like stature as far as like build. (Six-time first-team All Pro tight end) Tony Gonzalez, with him and his size, he played basketball as well, I used to love his celebration where he used to dunk on the goalposts.”
James’ footballing skill in high school led to many suggesting he could have a successful career in the NFL if he’d gone that route.
And when he was asked whether it would be harder to transition from the NBA to the NFL or vice versa, James said he’d put some thought into it.
“I want to say that I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get in the NBA,” he said. “And I know we’ve got some great athletes. … (If) an NBA guy decides to go play in the NFL, yes, it’s going to take a transition period. For me, it would’ve been like getting used to getting hit again.
“I remember from high school when I would go from summertime playing basketball, playing AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) ball and then going into the fall and having to get used to getting hit again. Those first few practices when you put on them shoulder pads and the helmets, getting hit again is the most important thing.
“Football going to basketball, it’s such more coordination and running and jumping, consistent,” he added, while also saying he believed current NBA players Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards would have the most success swapping to the NFL.
