Three athletes are Red Sox fans on the record: Stephen Curry, Larry Bird and Klay Thompson. Bird is the only one of the three who has said it himself in a source we can point to. Curry and Thompson were each reported by an outlet, and both are active in the league, while Bird is retired.
Which athlete is the most famous Red Sox fan?
Of the three, Larry Bird has the clearest connection to Boston, since his career was spent with the Boston Celtics. He was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and went to Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana, so his Red Sox fandom is not the hometown kind. He spoke about it to The Boston Globe in November 2015, saying "I even rooted for the Red Sox against the Cardinals in those World Series". That is in his own words, so it is the one entry here marked Confirmed.
Stephen Curry has the most recognizable name among active players, and he plays for the Golden State Warriors.
Which athletes grew up Red Sox fans?
Klay Thompson is the one whose fandom is tied to childhood. He was born in Los Angeles and attended Santa Margarita Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. NBC Sports Boston reported on April 1, 2021 that he posted an old photo to Instagram showing him in a Boston Red Sox uniform as a kid. According to that report, the caption explained why the Red Sox were his favorite team growing up. That is NBC Sports Boston's account of his post rather than a quote from Thompson, so it sits in the Reported tier. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, the year he turned 14. His career has run through the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks and, now, the Miami Heat.
Curry's case is less specific on timing. He was born in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he attended Charlotte Christian. The 2004 World Series title came in the year he turned 16.
What did Stephen Curry say about the Red Sox?
Boston.com reported on October 10, 2018 that Curry said, "I chose the Red Sox, and I've stuck with them ever since." The words are attributed to Curry by the outlet, so the entry is treated as Reported, not Confirmed in his own words. Boston.com is the only source behind it.
Reported or in his own words: how the three compare
The three are not equal in how well the fandom is documented. Bird's is the only one backed by his own words in a source, via the Globe interview. Curry's rests on a Boston.com report from 2018. Thompson's rests on NBC Sports Boston's 2021 report about his Instagram post. None of the three is described as a past fandom that has ended, and none is disputed by any source. No other athletes are listed for the Red Sox.
Questions people ask
Which athletes are Red Sox fans?
Stephen Curry, Larry Bird and Klay Thompson. Bird said it himself in The Boston Globe, while Curry and Thompson were reported by Boston.com and NBC Sports Boston.
Which athletes grew up Red Sox fans?
Klay Thompson, according to NBC Sports Boston's 2021 report that the Red Sox were his favorite team growing up. Curry told Boston.com he chose the Red Sox and has stuck with them, though that report does not date when it began.
Which athlete is the most famous Red Sox fan?
Larry Bird has the most direct tie, having played his career with the Boston Celtics and told The Boston Globe in 2015 that he rooted for the Red Sox in the World Series against the Cardinals.
Famous Red Sox fans in basketball
The list is Curry, Bird and Thompson.