Steph Curry makes impassioned plea for Brittney Garner in middle of Warriors’ NBA championship ring ceremony

Stephen Curry took microphone in middle of Golden State’s championship ring ceremony Tuesday night to make an impassioned plea in support of Brittney Griner as WNBA star spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison.

“We want to continue to use our platform and opportunity to shout out a very special member of basketball community. Brittney Griner’s birthday is today, she’s 32,” Curry told crowd on opening night before defending champions hosted LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers. “We want to continue to let her name be kwn and we pray ... it’s been 243 days since she was wrongfully incarcerated in Russia. We hope that she comes home soon, that everybody’s doing ir part to get her home.”

Warriors, long committed to social issues far beyond basketball, celebrated ir fourth championship in eight years.

Griner is awaiting a hearing in Russia later this month for her appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

She was convicted Aug. 4 after Russian police said y found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her lugg at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Her defense lawyers said she had been prescribed cannabis for pain. WNBA star said she had inadvertently packed m and had criminal intent.