LITTLE ROCK — Moses Moody didn’t need much of a sales pitch to convince Golden State Warriors teammate and NBA legend Stephen Curry to make a trip to his hometown.
With his annual Motivate One Foundation Summer Series on the horizon, Moody made the request one day in March while in the locker room with Curry.
“It wasn’t hard at all,” Moody said. “He said yes on the spot, and that we’ve got to figure out the date. And then he thanked me for inviting him to my home. It means a lot to me for him to come here, but then to think enough of me to be willing and want to come to my hometown, because that says something. I appreciate it.”
The four-day series of events included a food distribution that provided groceries to more than 3,000 local families, a charity golf tournament, a signature event at the Statehouse Convention Center, a youth basketball camp and a youth summit focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, skilled trades and career exploration.
photo Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry speaks to youth basketball campers, Saturday, July 25, 2026, at North Little Rock High School. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Curry was familiar with the foundation's work after previous summer series featured guest appearances by Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Rich Paul.
“It was very straightforward,” Curry said Saturday before a youth basketball camp at North Little Rock High School. “I know Draymond came last year, Rich Paul came … and [Moody] mentioned, ‘Hey, do you want to come down to a foundation event?’ And that he would love to have me.
“I had to figure out the details, but he's an automatic yes. I’ve been looking forward to it, for sure, because I know how proud he is of representing the city and being part of his history and his family. Being able to be here, it means a lot.”
Moody spent time over the weekend catching up with people who played key roles in his upbringing. A portion of the youth basketball camp was led by individuals who played influential roles throughout his career, ranging from former coaches to former teammates.
“It's home,” Moody said. “It's fun just being around — not even the excitement of a specific event — but just driving down the streets, knowing where you are, the familiarity of it all, and seeing the people that you are used to seeing growing up.”
Moody was presented a citation by Rep. Tippi McCullough, D-Little Rock, and Rep. Tracy Steele, D-North Little Rock, for his commitment to giving back to his hometown. The legislators gifted Curry an “Arkansas Traveler” certificate for his appearance, and gave both players limited edition Little Rock Nine Monument medallions.
“It's my first time in Arkansas, and first time in Little Rock, obviously,” Curry said. “The impressions are great knowing how much history is here. I wouldn't have it any other way [than] coming with Moses. He's like a great tour guide in the car coming with his dad yesterday from the airport out to the golf course and then all through downtown, kind of telling us about where he went to school, family history and all that type of stuff. You feel the energy here. It’s pretty awesome.”
photo Moses Moody delivers groceries during a community food distribution, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as part of the Motivate One Foundation Summer Series at the Watershed Family Resource Center in Little Rock. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
During a Q&A session Friday at the Statehouse Convention Center, Curry was asked if Moody, the 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year in his lone season on the Arkansas men’s basketball team, had taught him how to call the Hogs.
It was another former Razorback in attendance, Detroit Pistons guard Isaiah Joe, who told Curry of the chant backstage. The two golfed together earlier in the day.
“I was in the back practicing,” Curry said. “I think you do it three times, right? Mo has not brought that to our locker room quite yet, but it's great energy.”
During the youth basketball camp Saturday morning, Moody said it was surreal to have the best shooter in NBA history in the same gym where he played in high school. The pair spent about 15 minutes answering questions from campers.
“I hope you can continue to be aware and learn and ask questions, so that no matter what you decide to try to pursue in life, that you have the right skill set, resources, and energy to go about that,” Curry said. “Obviously, here on the basketball court, I know you all probably love the game. But no matter what you end up doing, what you learn through sports and what you learn from basketball will prepare you.”
Those close to Moody said the youth summit with Trades 4Life, an organization that helps underprivileged youth in Central Arkansas, was the most impactful event of the weekend for him.
“No matter what the lane is that you want to go and do professionally that you want to be good at, it's not as straight of a path as you might think it’s going to be in your head,” Moody said to the campers. “Life is up and down, good and bad. So, because of that, I just wanted you guys to have access to somebody that you all I know look up to, but I want to make sure that everybody here takes upon themselves to get the most out of this opportunity.”
photo Stephen Curry (left) greets Golden State Warriors teammate Moses Moody (right), Saturday, July 25, 2026, before speaking with youth basketball campers at North Little Rock High School. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Perhaps the weekend’s most touching moment came when Moody’s mother and father, Rona and Kareem, closed Friday night’s event thanking Curry for his friendship and generosity toward their son. Curry wiped away tears after the remarks.
“People say you never want to meet your idols, and everybody knows why,” Rona Moody said. “You don't want to be disappointed. … A lot of people feel like they know Steph and they think he’s an amazing person. I promise you, and I’ve got tell you in my experience in getting to know him, he's so much better than you even think he is. And I'm coming from a mother's heart, this is true. Thank you for coming to be here with us. That means everything to us, and we appreciate it.”
Looking back on the weekend, Moody said he hoped the experience would leave a lasting impression on local youth in his hometown community.
“It's everything I wanted it to be,” Moody said. “I could have only imagined me being that age or younger, and Steph Curry coming to Little Rock, and I get to see him and be around him. Knowing that he's walking around the same hallway that I did, I hope it is for them what it would have been for me.”