Stephen Curry bangs 'Keep Pounding' drum before Super Bowl

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- NBA MVP and Charlotte, North Carolina, native Stephen Currybanged the Carolina Panthers' ceremonial "Keep Pounding'' drum before Super Bowl 50.

After banging the drum four times while the Panthers ran onto the Levi's Stadium field, Curry raised his arms in the air and yelled, "Let's go!"

The Golden State Warriors star guard banged the drum before Carolina's home opener against Houston in September. He said he has been a huge Carolina fan since the organization played its first game in 1995.

The "Keep Pounding'' drum has become symbolic for the organization since former linebacker/coach Sam Mills died of cancer in 2005. Mills began Carolina's 2003 run to the playoffs with the message for players to "keep pounding,'' as he had in his battle with cancer.

Mills was diagnosed with cancer before the 2003 season and was initially given only three months to live.

Curry said earlier this year, when Golden State played the Hornets in Charlotte, that he planned to go to the Super Bowl if Carolina made it because it was a day off for the Warriors.

Curry wore a pair of specially made Under Armour shoes, colored blue in honor of the Panthers, for Saturday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He tweets often about his favorite NFL team. He sent this after the Panthers won the NFC Championship Game against Arizona: