WHEN: Today, Tuesday, September 3, 2024
WHERE: CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street”
Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with Golden State Warriors 4X NBA Champion Stephen Curry and Unanimous Media CEO Erick Peyton on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” (M-F, 9AM-11AM ET) today, Tuesday, September 3. This interview is also part of CNBC Sport, a new vertical the company announced last week that focuses on the intersection between business and sports. Following is a link to video on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/03/steph-curry-breaks-down-his-new-show-mr-throwback.html.
All references must be sourced to CNBC.
SARA EISEN: He is regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Stephen Curry joins us here at Post 9 after a busy summer leading Team USA to gold, signing a new record-breaking contract which will keep him a Warrior through 2027, and the star of Peacock’s new show, “Mr. Throwback,” set to premiere August 8th, alongside Co-Founder and CEO of Unanimous Media, Erick Peyton. Steph, Erick, thank you for joining us. It’s good to see you both.
STEPHEN CURRY: Thank you for having me. It’s great to see you too.
EISEN: You know, Erick’s here, you’re in this new show on Peacock. I mean, a lot of people don’t know that you have your own production company and that you’re now an actor. How did this come to be?
CURRY: We’ve been in this venture for almost six years now, and obviously Unanimous Media is all about faith, family, and sports, and putting content out there that can bring the family together, have fun, do it in a lot of different ways to amplify, you know, things that I’m about. The acting thing, it’s been in my family. My wife is an actress, and so I got some good training at home, but it was a cool first experience for me, and the show turned out great, so I’m super proud of it, for sure.
EISEN: When did you have time to film it?
CURRY: Well, we missed the playoffs, so I had a little extra time right before I went to the Olympics, but I had a great, you know, week. We filmed a little bit in Chicago, a little bit in the Bay Area, and it was a quick production to try to get it ready. And I think everything panned out well for the Olympics right before we played Serbia. The show premiered, and obviously we’ve got a gold medal now, too.
EISEN: Yeah, well, does that help, Erick? Because there was overlap, right, in viewers?
ERICK PEYTON: Yeah, yeah, no, it absolutely helped, you know, Peacock did a great job pushing viewers to the show, but it was, you know, SC giving us the time to shoot the show. You know, my job was to really protect his piece, keep the main thing the main thing, you know, so “Mr. Throwback” luckily fit into the schedule, and we got it done.
EISEN: What are you seeing right now in terms of doing content deals with companies like Peacock, and how much these streamers are willing to spend right now?
PEYTON: Yeah, I mean, honestly, it’s been amazing for us. You know, we’ve had some successes through “Mr. Throwback,” and “Niiice Shot” on GOLF Channel, and “Black Pop” on E. You know, we’re — you know, we’re killing it. So I’m extremely excited for the future, and Unanimous is a company that was born from a little bit of this volatility in the market, so it’s like we’re built for it.
CARL QUINTANILLA: Really, what kind of white space did you see developing within media?
PEYTON: I think for us it’s about connecting authentically with the audience, but also connecting authentically with the people that we’re doing the show with, right? And so that’s what we saw. We saw like being able to develop authentically with the viewers, being able to do it from A to Z, so yeah.
EISEN: We watched you play with LeBron in the Olympics, and the chemistry there. I’m sure you guys trade notes on basketball. Do you trade notes on owning production companies?
CURRY: For sure, pretty much everything. I know it’s such a great opportunity to leverage the platform of basketball, you know, doors that it’s opened in a lot of different ways and, you know, amplifying who we’re about in our own unique ways, and like EP just said, our authentic way of what is true to me, what’s true to him. There is crossover in terms of the strategy of how to do certain things and get the most bang for your buck. And for him, like he’s been a master at it for a very long time, and you know, being in a space where this is setting up post-career, you know, for us to be able to continue to stay in the space, whether it’s doing some broadcasting, whether it’s going deeper into, you know, shows like “Mr. Throwback,” which we plan on doing. I’m excited about it all.
QUINTANILLA: Do you have a vision for yourself in that period? What’s your main —
CURRY: Yeah. I mean, obviously, like you want to get everything that you can out of basketball. So I know I have however many years left to try to play it at this level, but everything that we’re doing now is setting up a foundation, whether it’s, you know, through TV, through film, through podcasting, through publishing, so that we have, you know, kind of roots in expressing this content in a way that brings families together, brings people together, inspires the next generation. It amplifies everything that I’m trying to do, especially in the community through our foundation as well out in Oakland. So I’m excited that I’ve had the opportunity to do it now so that I can go even deeper once basketball is done.
EISEN: When is basketball done? You’re going to be 39 by the end of this new contract? How many more years about left?
CURRY: I ain’t breaking no news on you.
EISEN: We want to break news.
CURRY: I’ve got at least three years left. And I know like it’s all about not just how many years you play, but the level that you’re playing. So I feel like I have a lot left in the tank. I want to keep winning. It’s been great to represent one franchise for my entire career. I’m going into year 16 now, so yeah at least these three, and then we’ll take it from there.
QUINTANILLA: You brought your medal.
CURRY: I did.
QUINTANILLA: And I’ve got to ask you, because the planet watching you drain those final threes that night, did you feel like you were in some kind of special zone because it was the Olympics, or was it to you just another competitive fight?
CURRY: No, it takes an energy of its own in the Olympics because it’s a one-and-done. Or when you get to the medal or the knockout rounds, it’s a one-and-done environment. It’s kind of like March Madness. And you know like that Serbia game we had in the semifinals, I got hot early to kind of keep us in it, and then we had that big comeback in the fourth quarter. There’s just a rush. You know, a seven-game series is a long buildup. This was just one game, 40 minutes, can you get it done? Then, obviously, the France game, gold medal game in France, that last three minutes was storybook stuff, and it still really hasn’t sunk in. Winning a gold, we expected to do that. We knew it was going to be hard, but how it happened, I still watch some highlights. It’s good.
EISEN: This was your first Olympics.
CURRY: My first Olympics, yeah, yeah, so.
EISEN: New experience for you. You’ve done a lot of other things.
CURRY: I played with Draymond, Klay, Katie. They all won gold before, so I was the odd man out, but now I finally have mine for sure.
QUINTANILLA: Not anymore.
CURRY: Not anymore.
EISEN: So I also want to talk to you about golf, Steph, because you have a lot of people also probably don’t realize that you have a golf tournament —
CURRY: Yeah.
EISEN: — that you started, and the Curry Cup is actually happening this week.
CURRY: It’s happening this week out here in the East Coast.
EISEN: What is this project?
CURRY: This is part of the Underrated Golf Tour. It’s a tour we started three years ago to serve the underrepresented community in golf, trying to get more black and brown boys and girls with golf clubs in their hand and support their journey through the competitive ranks. So we have an all-expense-paid tour where we, you know, have kids come to eat four different tour stops around the country, and it leads up into the Curry Cup. We had it in the Bay Area last year. We’re having it in Paramus, New Jersey at Ridgewood Country Club this year. And so a great experience for the kids, their families playing on championship golf courses, but also hopefully aspiring to get, you know, these kids on the LPGA, PGA, and other professional tours and get more representation in the game. And it’s all about golf, allowing equity, access and opportunity through, creating, you know, amazing experiences for these kids. So I mean—
EISEN: I was going to say, what does success look like? Like what metrics? So you want to see these kids in professional—
CURRY: So yeah, eventually make it to the professional race. I think golf is also a vehicle to expose them to the world in a different way. Networking, bringing people. We have a lot of mentors, you know, C-suite executives, people from different industries coming and being on panels, talking to the kids, giving them an understanding of, you know, this is how I got to this profession. This is how I got to this position. And whether they play professional golf or not all the while we’re developing, you know, life and workforce skillsets that they can take into wherever they end up. And, you know, that’s the doors that golf’s open for me. It’s a passion, but it provides a lot of resources as well.
EISEN: Are you involved in this, in this piece as well?
CURRY: He’s a horrible golfer.
PEYTON: I am a horrible golfer. I am, I am, but I’m working on it. I’m working on it. I just broke a hundred. I know it’s natural news. That’s probably going to but yeah, no, no, no, I’m not. I’m not part of the underrated.
QUINTANILLA: But I do wonder when you’re dealing with a talent, a singular talent like his—
PEYTON: Yes.
QUINTANILLA: Is the roadmap for his portfolio, his career, his post career career, right, is it unique or are there other templates that you would use?
PEYTON: I would say it’s a little unique. It’s — it starts with him, right? It starts with what he really wants to do. Like my job is to create that space, protect his joy, protect the main thing, make the main thing, the main thing at that time, but ultimately set up for the legacy, right? That’s what Unanimous is hopefully that’ll — it’ll be around for 10, 20, 30 years.
QUINTANILLA: And you’re doing it at a time where live sports has never been more essential.
PEYTON: Right, absolutely.
QUINTANILLA: We talked about the impact here all the time.
PEYTON: Yes, absolutely. And eventually, you know, we can’t announce anything right now, but eventually that — that is the goal to get into live broadcasting as well.
EISEN: We got to ask you about Under Armour. I see you’re wearing the jacket. It’s been almost eight years since we went to Asia together, right—
CURRY: Yes.
EISEN: On your, on one of your world tours. Yeah, I know you’ve had high hopes for this collaboration and partnership, and you’re now the president of the Curry Brand. Under Armour, it has been a bit of a rocky road in the market and, you know, Plank was out, now he’s back in. What’s your sense of what’s going on there right now?
CURRY: It’s, it’s an inflection point for us for sure. Like I’ve been a part of, there’s been a partnership since 2013. So we’ve been on, it was a meteoric rise, you know, and then, you know, I’ve had some rough patches. Like you said, we’ve had three different CEOs in the last, you know, seven years. So having Kevin back is great to understand, you know, his passion for the brand, obviously, but his history and understanding where we’ve been, where we’re trying to go. Having Curry Brand now is a huge deal for us. Being able to sign other athletes. We signed De’Aaron Fox last year from the Sacramento Kings, trying to cross over into different sports products in a really good place. But we’re just trying to hit, you know, it’s about being able to — to sell hope and inspiration around not only great product, but you got to believe in what we’re about. And so making that authentic is my whole, you know, vision for Curry Brand, for Under Armour. To your point, we’re going back to China next week. First time since 2019, continue to try to grow our brand out there. So I’m excited about where we’re going. And I know, you know, Curry Brand has been in existence for the last three years. And I think we’re just getting started on this journey.
EISEN: You’re trying to build Jordan Brand, right?
CURRY: My version of it. Yeah.
EISEN: Yeah.
CURRY: I know the market conditions are different. I’m different than Jordan. So, but he was a guy that obviously created a sustainable brand underneath his name and he’s still doing it to the day — to this day. And you know, the fact that I have other athletes believing in what we’re about, believing in me and can take what Curry Brand stands for in terms of changing the game for good and make that something for their own, on the top of, you know, providing great product for them. I think we have a good recipe for it.
EISEN: What about the we made a surprise appearance at the DNC that I wanted to ask you about endorsing Kamal Harris. I think we do have a clip of it if we could just play.
CURRY: What’s up everybody. Stephen Curry here. I know you all know I played for the Golden State Warriors. Man, what a great honor it was to represent Team USA and go out there and win that gold medal at the Olympics this summer. And that unity on and off the court reminded us all that together we can do all things and continue to inspire the world. That’s why I believe that Kamala as president could bring that unity back and continue to move our country forward. This is about preserving hope and belief in our country, making sure families can be taken care of during their most precious times.
EISEN: What was the reaction to that? And why did — why was that so important for you to do?
CURRY: The reaction was great. There’s also obviously a lot of noise in terms of anytime you step into this lane, you know, it’s going to be received, you know, in a lot of different ways. And for me, it’s all about creating conversations that are about being decent human beings. First and foremost, I think we’ve lost that a little bit to where obviously endorsing Kamala is important for me, for my family.
EISEN: Why? What are the issues you care about most?
CURRY: Say what?
EISEN: What are the issues you care about?
CURRY: I just know from — especially women’s rights and thinking about, you know, what’s at stake with this election and understanding like we need to be in a position where women have the right to choose what’s right for them. And that’s at the top of the list for me. I have amazing women in my life who, you know, been a huge inspiration to me. But knowing Kamala and having been around her and I understand she’s qualified for this job. She’s I think representing what it means to be a great leader and being a decent human being in terms of representing our country the right way. So it’s an easy choice for me. But to be able to have — be in a situation where you can be a part of the DNC, do a video like that, you know, let people know where I feel like, but foster positive conversations through it all. I think that’s what our country needs.
QUINTANILLA: Is the conversation about the business plan regarding a move like that to agree to appear, is it a tough one? Were there folks trying to say, man, maybe that’s not such a good idea?
CURRY: Even if there were conversations like you have to, again, be what I believe is, you know, what I want to do. Like he said, you follow kind of my lead and I’m not worried about — I come with love and I come with, you know, hopefully be being educated on what I’m talking about in the whole deal. But just the fact that, you know, you want to be able to leverage a platform in all the different ways that you can. To me, I’m going to be as consistent as possible with that. And, you know, whether you agree with me or not, that’s not everybody’s supposed to have the same beliefs. Not everybody’s supposed to see the world the same way. And that’s fine. But, you know, it doesn’t — I don’t — I don’t hesitate to do stuff like that.
EISEN: So we talk media, golf, Under Armour – is there anything else you’re looking to add to your portfolio? You don’t have enough on your plate?
CURRY: I mean, the only thing down the road, eventually being, you know, interested in team ownership in the NBA. I know I’ve seen Jordan do it. You know, you have guys in the league now that are taking the necessary steps to be, you know, legitimate players when it comes to the league and possibly expanding in a couple of years. So for me, that’s definitely on the table. But obviously, I know I have a lot more left to accomplish on the court before you move into any other role within the league. But definitely want to be a part of the ownership landscape. I think I got to do a pretty good job of helping sustain how great the NBA is right now. And, you know, the things that I’ve learned over my career and what it takes to run a championship organization.
EISEN: Like what? What do you think you could do better?
CURRY: Better? I mean, there’s — obviously the Lacob and Guber family, who are the chairman of the Warriors organization. You see how you treat the players first class and the investment that it takes to create that first class experience that, you know, we feel taken care of. And then that — that allows us to go out there and hoop at a very high level. And representing not just the franchise, but the community. Like I’m Oakland, San Francisco is my adopted home. I’ve been out there for 16 years. You have to be authentic to the community as well. And the fan base that you represent, that fills the seats and creating that connection is as important as putting the ball in the basket. So you can’t have one without the other.
EISEN: So Steph Curry, future owner of the Warriors.
CURRY: Not the Warriors. Joe ain’t giving that up. But yeah, we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens.
EISEN: Well, we’re excited to watch you this season. Steph, thank you for spending some time here at the Stock Exchange.
CURRY: Absolutely.
EISEN: We appreciate it, Erick. Good to meet you, too, Erick Peyton.
PEYTON: Nice to meet you too. Thank you.
EISEN: And be sure to check out Steph’s new show, “Mr. Throwback.” It’s funny. And you got some good reviews.
CURRY: I did. I did.
EISEN: It’s streaming on Peacock right now.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Dauble
CNBC
t: 201.735.4721
m: 201.615.2787
Stephanie Hirlemann
CNBC
m: 201.397.2838
