Stephen Curry shows his admiration for student-athletes in YouTube series ‘5 Minutes From Home’

LeBron James isn’t the only NBA player dabbling in film. Golden State Warriors champ Stephen Curry is telling short stories using his YouTube channel to show his softer side.

In the third episode of Curry’s newly launched original video series, 5 Minutes From Home, which posted this week, he invites three student-athletes from Oakland, California’s, McClymonds High School basketball team to ride in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for a drive to a food truck nearby. During the ride after a Warriors home game, the players look to Curry for his take on basketball. They reveal stories of adversity, tragedy and overcoming challenges.

Curry shared salient advice.

“The biggest thing we’ve learned is everybody’s accepting their role,” Curry told the students. “Everybody can’t be the star. But if you really embrace, like, those roles to help you win games, everybody’s going to feel good. Everbody’s gonna get shine …”

The point guard, husband and father said he admired the students for their courage and wisdom.

“Having the opportunity to talk with these young players gives me hope for our future,” he said. “Seeing their resilience in the face of adversity, and their determination to be a positive influence on their friends, family and even their community, inspired me.”

Before the end of the ride, Curry FaceTimed one of his teammates, NBA MVP Kevin Durant, an unexpected surprise for the students.

The series, which is developed and produced by Portal A and Curry’s Unanimous Media, follows the superstar and a revolving set of influential guests as they take a drive and grab a bite after a home game.

In the first episode, Curry takes a ride back with YouTube superstar Rudy Mancuso. The two discuss Mancuso’s tattoos, have a live jam session to record a new hit song and end the night at one of the best food trucks in Oakland.

Episode two is a ride with rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle. While on their way from the game to grab some late-night dumplings, the two talk sports, music and fatherhood.

“We had a really great experience working with him [Curry],” said Nate Houghteling, executive producer of Portal A. “He’s so authentic and really understands YouTube and social media. … When that opportunity came up, we were in a fortunate position to get the chance to develop some shows together and be the production partner.”

Portal A first worked with Curry on a project called Best Roommate Ever, a music video featuring Curry and YouTube creator King Bach.

“The whole thing was pretty easy just because of the natural energy that he brings to these projects we work on together,” Houghteling said. “He kind of just walked on set. Our whole idea when putting it together is trying to come up with ideas that are in his natural flow of his life. So 5 Minutes From Home kind of came out of he leaves the game and goes home and usually gets the bite on the way in the Sprinter van. So we turned that into a talk show or a chat show with him as a guest.”

The decision behind including high school students was important to Curry’s theme of giving back.

“And I think we’ll be doing more in this … ,” said Houghteling. “Stephen has a relationship with the McClymonds High School basketball team, he donated jerseys to them, he has a relationship with their coach. And so seeing that all come together, the look on the students’ faces when Stephen kind of walked up and introduced himself, it really reinforced kind of what the show is all about, which is Stephen leaning into his interests, and a big interest for him is doing work in the community.”

Houghteling said the collaboration with Portal A and Unanimous Media has been a positive experience.

“They understand at a deep level what Stephen’s media brand is all about and making programming that really fits within that.”

Curry’s YouTube page now has 337,000 subscribers.

“Through my YouTube channel, I can continue to connect with people around the world and reach them in an authentic, consistent and unfiltered way,” Curry said in a statement. “I’m excited to share my life, passions, and personality with my fans.”

The launch of the YouTube show started during the 2018 NBA playoffs when Curry was recuperating from an MCL injury while the Warriors were on their way to sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers.