Under Armour's $4million-a-year golden boy Steph Curry butts heads with the CEO for saying Trump is an 'asset' to the country, saying: 'I agree with that description - if you remove the "et" from asset'

  • Steph Curry was not impressed by CEO Kevin Plank's comment about Trump
  • 'I agree with that description - if you remove the "et" from asset,' Curry said
  • But he says he believes Plank was only talking about Trump's business acumen
  • Plank promised Curry that he does not support Trump's controversial policies  
  • Under Armour is paying Curry $4m a year until 2024, per a 2015 contract 
  • Last week LeBron James also spoke out against Donald Trump's policies
  • He said the anti-Muslim immigration policy 'does not represent America'

Two-time MvP Steph Curry is almost as famous for staying out of politics as he is for his game - but when the CEO of his sponsors, Under Armour, came out in favor of Donald Trump he couldn't keep silent.

On Tuesday Kevin Plank, whose company is paying Curry $4 million a year until 2024, told CNN that Donald Trump was a 'real asset' for US companies.

When asked what he thought of that quote on Wednesday, the usually mild-mannered athlete was shockingly up-front, telling The Mercury News: 'I agree with that description - if you remove the "et" from asset.'

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Endorsement: Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank (pictured) said Donald Trump was an 'asset' to the US on Tuesday
Worried: That left Under Armour-sponsored basketball player Stephen Curry reeling

Head to head: When Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank (left) said Donald Trump was an 'asset' to the US, he left sponsored basketball player Stephen Curry (right) reeling

Worried: Curry, who makes $4m a year in sponsorship from the company believes Trump is an 'a**' because of his immigration and Muslim policies - and demanded reassurance

Worried: Curry, who makes $4m a year in sponsorship from the company believes Trump is an 'a**' because of his immigration and Muslim policies - and demanded reassurance

Curry has traditionally been cagey about voicing his opinions on political matters, so for him to be so forthright is a real surprise.

But Wednesday's sharp retort didn't come completely out of the blue.

Curry spoken before about his faith demanding that he treat everyone with respect.

So it's not surprising to discover that Trump's rhetoric, which has upset women, Muslims, Mexicans and other groups in the US, doesn't well with him.

But he did some due diligence with Plank before he made any moves.

'I spent all day [Tuesday] on the phone,' Curry said, 'with countless people at Under Armour, countless people in Kevin Plank's camp, my team, trying to understand what was going on and where everybody stood on the issue.'

Plank - who has contributed to a Trump-led business think-tank - told Curry that he was only commending the President's passion for business, and that he doesn't support any of his more controversial policies.

And Under Armour put out a statement in which it engages 'in policy, not politics' and supports 'fair trade,' 'an inclusive immigration policy,' and 'tax reform' that drives job growth. 

It's just business: Plank (right, with Steve Bannon, Donald Trump and other business leaders in January) says he only likes Trump's passion for business, and doesn't back his policies

It's just business: Plank (right, with Steve Bannon, Donald Trump and other business leaders in January) says he only likes Trump's passion for business, and doesn't back his policies

'We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences and opinions,' it said, adding that it would advocate polities that protect 'our business, our team, and our community.'

'Based off the release that KP sent out this morning, and what he told me last night, that's the Under Armour that I know,' Curry said. 

'That's the brand I know he's built and one that, as of Wednesday afternoon, is something that I'm standing on.'

And in case anyone thinks that the massive sponsorship contract Curry signed in 2015 is leading him, he added a disclaimer.

'If I can say the leadership is not in line with my core values, then there is no amount of money, there is no platform I wouldn’t jump off, if it wasn’t in line with who I am,' he promised.

Under Armour will be happy to hear that - one analyst told Business Insider last year that the player was worth as much as $14 billion to the company.

Curry isn't the only basketball legend who's got beef with the Trump administration.

LeBron James took the president to task last week after he accepted the Jackie Robinson Award at the NAACP Image Awards, footage of which will air on TV One on Saturday.

Standing up: LeBron James is similarly unimpressed by Trump. Last week, after being given the Jackie Robinson Award, the athlete said the anti-Muslim ban 'does not represent' the US

Standing up: LeBron James is similarly unimpressed by Trump. Last week, after being given the Jackie Robinson Award, the athlete said the anti-Muslim ban 'does not represent' the US

Taking aim at Trump's proposed south border Wall and his attempted ban on US visa holders from a selection of mostly Muslim countries, James told The Hollywood Reporter that 'Diversity is what makes this country so great.'

'We should all continue to speak up and fight for ideas that bring people together regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs or any other differences,' he continued.

And when it came to the Muslim travel ban, he said: 'I am not in favor of this policy or any policy that divides and excludes people.

'I stand with the many, many Americans who believe this does not represent what the United States is all about. And we should continue to speak out about it.'

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