NBA: Curry’s emotional tribute to the griner imprisoned in Russia

Status: 10:35 a.m| Reading time: 3 minutes

NBA superstar Steph Curry commemorated basketball player Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia, at the start of the season. “We want to take our stage and the opportunity to say hello to an important member of the basketball community: Today is Brittney Griner’s birthday, she is 32 years old. Let’s keep her name known and pray she has been illegally detained in Russia for 243 days and we hope she comes home soon and everyone contributes,” Curry said before the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Lakers at the championship Ceremony of the defending champion.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possession of so-called vape cartridges and hashish oil and was sentenced to nine years in prison by a court in the Russian capital in early August. Internationally, the verdict triggered a wave of solidarity with the athlete. The basketball player reportedly appealed. The US sharply criticizes the decision of the Russian judiciary and demands their release.

The Warriors won the game against the Lakers around superstar LeBron James, who played against the defending NBA champion without the injured international Dennis Schröder. The 29-year-old captain of the German selection wants to be able to help the record champions much earlier than the team initially expected after an operation on his thumb. “They said in seven to ten days the wound should be completely healed and from there it’s about how I feel. The first diagnosis is that I will be out for four weeks. But of course I’m trying to break a record and be back at the start as soon as possible,” said Schröder before the Lakers’ 109:123 defeat in San Francisco.

Curry marked 33 points for the Warriors

Schroeder had surgery on Monday after tearing ligaments in his right thumb in a friendly against the Minnesota Timberwolves the week before. Without the number 17, the Lakers started the season with Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook as playmakers and didn’t have much of a chance against the Warriors around Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. In the third quarter the gap grew to 27 points. Curry marked 33 points for the champion, James came as the best Lakers pitcher on 31. Before the game, the Warriors had received their rings for the championship and pulled the banner under the roof of the hall.

Schröder already played for the NBA record champions in the 2020/2021 season and signed a one-year contract in Los Angeles after his strong performances at the European Basketball Championships with bronze for Germany. “I know the team needs me, but unfortunately you can’t prevent injuries in sport,” he said. “I’m working very hard to be back in two or three weeks and have an immediate positive impact on the team. I want to help my team-mates to win.”

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In the first game of the season, the Boston Celtics won at home against the Philadelphia 76ers. Last season’s finalist won 126:117 at the TD Garden. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both had 35 points, while Tatum had 12 rebounds and four assists. For the 76ers, James Harden was also the most successful thrower with 35 points.

The season in the NBA consists of 82 main round games for each of the 30 teams. The top 16 teams advance to the playoffs. The decision in the championship will be made in June 2023.