Dell Curry reveals he convinced 1 team not to draft Steph Curry in 2009
May 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Dell Curry, father of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), during the third quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Politeness may have caused the Minnesota Timberwolves to lose out on Steph Curry.
The Timberwolves have been the butt of several jokes over the last decade and a half for passing on Curry twice during the 2009 NBA Draft. Minnesota had the fifth and sixth picks and drafted Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn — two point guards — over Curry.
But a phone call with Steph’s father, former NBA player Dell Curry, may have been what prevented the Timberwolves from taking the Davidson product.
Steph and Dell Curry this week launched their “Heat Check” audio show, where the pair recently discussed the days leading up to the ’09 draft.
On episode three of the 10-part audio series, Dell revealed that he had warned the Timberwolves against drafting Steph. The Curry patriarch wanted his son drafted 8th by the New York Knicks.
“I got a call from Minnesota as well, asking about drafting [Steph],” Dell said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I told them, ‘Please don’t. Please don’t.’ It was [ex-Timberwolves assistant coach] JB Bickerstaff. They said, ‘OK, we won’t.’”
“They didn’t. [The Timberwolves took] two back-to-back point guards.”
Dell said that he had a similar conversation with former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson. But Nelson and the Warriors didn’t listen and drafted Steph anyway.
The Warriors’ decision to draft Steph against Dell’s wishes seems to have worked out for all parties involved.
