Stephen Curry had just poured in a game-high 34 points to rally the Golden State Warriors to a come-from-behind win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
But the newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player wasn’t the star of the night. He wasn’t even the biggest star from his own family. Those honors went to Riley Curry, Steph’s two-year-old daughter, who completely upstaged her famous father at the post-game press conference.
Riley is the latest in a long line of sportspeople’s kids who have crashed their parents’ press conferences and raised the adorability bar to untold heights. Here’s a look at a trend everyone can get behind.
Chris Paul’s son
The son of the All-Star point guard, a then- two-year-old also named Chris, melted hearts nationwide after the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of their first-round series in 2012.
Derrick Rose’s son
PJ Rose, two-year-old son of the Chicago Bulls point guard, was the breakout star of this year’s Eastern Conference semifinals after joining his dad following Game 4.
Koji Uehara’s son
Kaz Uehara, then-seven-year-old son of Koji, was to the point when Fox’s Erin Andrews put him on the spot after his dad recorded the final out of the 2013 World Series.
Glen Davis’ daughter
The burly post man known as Big Baby brought his daughter Amari, then 20 months old, to a presser after his Orlando Magic suffered a lopsided loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their 2012 first-round series.
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s son
The Houston Texans quarterback had just thrown six touchdown passes in a blowout of the Tennessee Titans, but it was his son Brady whose math skills blew away the press. Just like the son of a Harvard alum.
Tim Duncan’s kids
The San Antonio Spurs talisman brought his kids to the press conference after capturing the NBA title over the Miami Heat in 2014.
Jake Peavy’s sons
Wyatt and Judson, sons of the San Francisco Giants hurler, stole the show at a press conference during last year’s World Series ahead of Game 6. First Wyatt revealed that his father had already discussed what they’d do if the Giants won the title – a no-no in baseball’s famously hyper-superstitious clubhouses – then Judson refused to name his dad as his favorite player.
Jonathan Quick’s daughter
The Los Angeles Kings goaltender had just won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, but it was his daughter Madison who quickly made her commanding presence known.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s son
The son of the Portuguese captain – who once interrupted a sit-down interview wearing a Superman costume – had a question that just couldn’t wait as his father held court in the mixed zone after a 2013 friendly win over Sweden: “Daddy, will you sleep with me tonight?”
Kim Clijsters’ daughter
Clijsters had returned from a 27-month retirement, played two events – one less than the minimum necessary to calculate an official ranking – and was given a wild-card invitation to the US Open. Naturally she won the whole thing, becoming the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980, setting the stage for little Jada’s star turn.
Ron Artest’s entire family
The mercurial swingman both worked within the genre and subverted it in 2010, when he brought out his entire family after the Los Angeles Lakers won a second straight NBA title with a Game 7 win over the hated Boston Celtics. It appeared he may have brought a drink or two along as well as his family.
