Stephen Curry named AP Male Athlete of the Year

Stephen Curry has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors, it was announced on Saturday.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors, it was announced on Saturday.

Curry beat out golfer Jordan Spieth, who won two major titles, and Triple Crown-winning horse American Pharoah.

Pharoah actually received three more first-place votes than Curry’s 24, but Curry was on 86 percent of the 82 ballots that ranked the top-five candidates, while the horse was left off of more than one-third of them.

Curry led the Warriors to their first NBA title in 40 years last season, averaging 23.8 points and 7.7 assists per game on over 44% shooting from three-point range. This season, he’s helped the Warriors start 28–1 thanks to a career-high 30.8 points per game.

• Mark Jackson on Curry: ‘To a degree, he’s hurt the game’

He is just the fourth NBA player to earn the honor in the 85 years that it’s been given out, joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.

- Kenny Ducey