If you think about it, politics is not a left-field choice for Stephen Curry. For years, the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter has used his platform to empower the underserved and has even inspired his fellow athletes to do the same. Curry has also maintained a close relationship with former POTUS Barack Obama, while not ruling out entering politics for a key reason once his basketball career ends.

So, when John Calipari was asked which NBA player he would want to see run for office, the Arkansas head coach answered almost immediately.

“Steph Curry,” said Coach Cal to TMZ on Monday. “But he would never do it. But he would be good because he cares about people. Really bright, energetic, has his beliefs and what he believes in, he’s going after. He’d be great.”

Calipari was then asked which political position would suit Curry best, namely President, Senator, or Mayor, and the veteran coach did not hesitate to answer that doubt either.

“Whatever he wants, if he’s president, I want to be the ambassador to the Vatican,” Calipari continued. “That’d be good.”

This statement adds to a conversation that Stephen Curry has taken surprisingly seriously in the past. In a 2024 CBS interview promoting his children’s book, I Am Extraordinary, Curry was asked whether he could see himself running for president after his basketball career was done. The four-time NBA champion made it clear that he hadn’t completely dismissed public service.

“Maybe, I have an interest in leveraging every part of my influence for good in the way that I can,” Curry said. “So, if that’s the way to do it, then… I’m not going to say the presidency, but if politics is a way that you can create meaningful change or if there’s another way outside of politics.”

That answer immediately sparked speculation about a potential 2028 campaign. Curry, however, quickly pumped the brakes, saying, “Not that soon.”

The Warriors star’s potential political future has also drawn support from another NBA veteran, Danny Green. The three-time champion had said Curry would be the ideal representative from the league if an NBA player ever entered politics.

“If anybody from our league is gonna represent us in that fashion, it’d be him,” Green said in 2024. “I’d vote for him.”

Green, like Calipari, also pointed to Curry’s character, faith and willingness to use his platform for causes beyond basketball.

“He does things the right way,” Green said to TMZ in 2024. “Spiritual guy, faith, uses his platform for great things. He’s a good human being. How can you hate Steph Curry?”

Curry’s community work holds the biggest weight here. In 2019, he and his wife, Ayesha, launched Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to support children in Oakland. They focus on nutrition, literacy and opportunities for kids to play and stay active. By September 2023, they had raised more than $47 million, delivered more than 25 million meals, and invested $6 million in literacy resources and support.

Stephen Curry and Ayesha also covered 100% of the foundation’s administrative and fundraising costs, ensuring donations went directly toward its programs.

Curry’s political involvement has also gone beyond simply discussing a future campaign. He and Ayesha publicly backed Joe Biden in 2020, and the NBA star later voiced support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. His relationship with Obama has further connected him to the political world.

The Warriors have also visited the White House to celebrate their 2015 and 2022 championships. Golden State also won titles in 2017 and 2018 but skipped the presidential visit during Donald Trump’s years in office.

Curry’s history of opposing Trump also showcases that he is willing to take a public stand. In 2017, after the sharpshooter clarified that his beliefs were “cemented even further about how things in our country are going” after Trump declared the Warriors’ invitation to the White House was “withdrawn.”

“I don’t know why he feels the need to target certain individuals rather than others,” Curry said. “I have an idea of why, but it’s kind of beneath a leader of a country to go that route. That’s not what leaders do.”

Then, in 2022, Curry argued that Trump’s political rhetoric has a “tone of divisiveness that doesn’t have a place in our country” and urged voters to take his influence seriously. A few more verbal jabs have followed in subsequent years.

But the most telling reason why Curry should pursue politics perhaps surfaced earlier this year during his speech after receiving the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

“Everybody in this room, don’t ever forget that you have a platform, you have a voice, you have everything that you need to make a true impact, and I encourage you to find your Oakland, find what makes you different and where you can have that impact,” Stephen Curry said with a smile.

The Currys have wanted to make an impact for years. In 2019, Curry said he and Ayesha believed “it takes a village” to raise a child and that they were fortunate to be born into loving, supportive, healthy families, but that wasn’t true for every kid.

So, it’s the Warriors veteran’s character and relentless drive that he and his wife can personally inspire change and, importantly, sustain it that separates him from tons of other athletes and celebrities who draw big paychecks.

For now, though, Curry remains focused on basketball. A presidential campaign is still hypothetical. But if he ever changes his mind, Coach Calipari already has his first cabinet appointment figured out.