DALLAS -- Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry attempted to encourage and inspire Mavericks guard Devin Harris' nephew in the wake of the death of the boy's father last week.
Curry talked with Harris and his nephew, 9-year-old Brayden, in the midcourt tunnel at the American Airlines Center before Monday's game against the Mavericks. Bruce Harris, Devin's 38-year-old brother, died Thursday afternoon due to injuries suffered in a car accident early that morning.
"It's obviously hard to find the right words to say in that situation because it's such a tough blow to the family," said Curry, who hugged Brayden as they talked. "At that age, I can't imagine what he's going through, but the best thing I could say is just to lean on his family to give him that strength in this tough time. Nobody could tell [him] how to feel to allow himself to get through this the best that he can, but with his family at his side and leaning on them for strength and for love, hopefully they'll be there for him. That's the best I can tell."
The meeting was set up by Curry's brother, Seth, a Mavericks guard, and Warriors guard Shaun Livingston, a longtime friend of Harris'. Stephen Curry, Brayden's favorite player, also autographed several items for the boy.
Harris, 34, has not played since his brother's death and remains on indefinite leave from the Mavs. On Monday, he made his first trip to the American Airlines Center since Thursday's accident in part to help try to get his nephew's mind off the tragedy. Harris watched the Mavs-Warriors game with his nephew in the stands.
"I lost my brother tragically and it's been a tough week," Harris told reporters in the Mavs' locker room before the game, his nephew at his side. "The family is taking it pretty hard, as you would expect them to. Probably the toughest thing I've had to deal with, dealing with myself, trying to explain it to his kids, my kids. It's just been tough."