Good timing for good medicine – master sergeant helps Team Edwards return to military basketball league play Published May 13, 2025 By Gary Hatch 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Office EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Trivone Curry’s lifelong pursuit of basketball has taken some untimely turns – from an aborted run as an NCAA Division 2 basketball player to the time he was selected to try out for the Air Force competition team, but a deployment quashed that opportunity. When Curry agreed to step into the role as coach of the base’s travelling Military Basketball Association team this season, it signaled yet another turn in his basketball life – from active player to coach – and filled a key position that enabled the base to again compete in the league after a five-year absence. For this latest turn, at least, the timing worked out. The team was admittedly put together in a hurry this season, forming quickly and just in time to compete in the league, but it filled a void that began when COVID 19 hit and the season was canceled. Curry, who serves as a flight chief in the 412th Communications Squadron, arrived on base just over a year ago. He played in the base intramural basketball program where he got to know players from several of the other teams in the league. “Some of the players approached me and asked if I’d consider coaching the base travel team,” Curry said. Weighted against the already sizeable time commitments of a busy senior noncommissioned officer with an active family life, he still thought he could find a way to make it work. His one-word answer, “Sure,” almost seems to belie the effort and commitment he knew he was taking on. But another thing he knew was the world of difference this could make in the lives of his players. "Basketball is good medicine," Curry said. "It takes you away from your daily struggles." The MBA was founded with a point of focus on all the benefits that come from the competitive league. More than the obvious physical benefits, there are mental and emotional benefits as well, which the league recognizes and promotes along with healthy, positive competition. “I look at these young guys and I remember what it was like to be a single Airman. I mean, now I have my family here with me and I love to spend time with them. In fact, my wife and I are coaching our kids’ basketball team(s?) during the week and on weekends as well, and I love it,” Curry said. “But I look at these young guys and this can make such a difference to them. I'm not gonna lie, it's very time consuming. But I mean, I love the game of basketball, and then also I love just giving back to the airmen here, because I didn’t have a travel team at my base when I was an airman. I wish someone would’ve taken the initiative to create a travel team to go play other bases. So, I look at them now, and I'm just trying to give them what I didn't have,” Curry said. The season schedule is organized to make it as easy as possible for military organizations to compete. One weekend a month two teams in the conference act as host and two other teams will travel to the host base where all three teams play each other twice that weekend. Meanwhile the same thing happens at another host installation. That means teams only need to travel and stay at or near another base once a month. But one of the challenges for the team is that they have to pay their own travel expenses – transportation, food and lodging. All things considered – from time spent coaching the team and all the related administrative duties to the time spent away from home and family along with the associated out-of-pocket travel costs – it’s evident the commitment is real, but Curry is looking for help. “Right now, we are looking at the possibility of getting sponsors to help with some of the travel costs, and we’re looking into the possibility of hosting games here. That would also save us from having to travel that weekend,” he said. Clearly Curry and the team already have their focus on next season. “Yeah, I’m planning on being back to coach again next year,” Curry said. Why not? One good turn deserves another.