Leading up to draft day, Stephen Curry had a very strong list of preferences on where to start his NBA career, which neither the Warriors nor the Timberwolves were on. After receiving calls from those teams before the draft, Steph’s father, Dell, revealed how he did his part to ensure they did not pick No. 30.
“So draft day, we’re in New York, I get a call from [ex-Warriors coach] Don Nelson,” Dell said on the “Heat Check with Stephen and Dell Curry” podcast. “He says, ‘Dell, you got a problem if we select Steph at No. 7? I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ He’s like, ‘What?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, we want him in New York.’ We talk for five or 10 minutes. He’s like, ‘Well if he’s there, we’re going to take him anyway.’ I’m like,’ It’s your choice. You asked me for my opinion, I gave it to you.’ I’m glad he [picked Steph]. It all worked
“I got a call from Minnesota [Timberwolves] as well, asking about drafting [Steph],” Dell said. “I told them, ‘Please don’t. Please don’t.’ It was [ex-Timberwolves assistant coach] J. B. Bickerstaff. They said, ‘OK, we won’t.’ They didn’t. [They took] two back-to-back point guards.”
Dell is a 16-year NBA veteran and former Sixth Man of the Year who played for the Hornets, Jazz, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Raptors. As his son Steph was following a similar path, he helped him grow and develop his game and he tried to help get to his dream destination.
Of course, Steph (a 2x MVP) only had eyes for the Knicks at the time and was working with his family and agent to make his dream a reality. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they had the 8th pick that year and by the time it was their turn to choose, Curry was already off the board. They ended up selecting Jordan Hill instead.
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