The city of Charlotte is a place that Stephen Curry holds close to his heart. The hooper has even admitted that “If there was a team that I did want to play for that was not named the Warriors, that (Hornets) would be it.” His mother, Sonya, however, wasn’t a big fan of their initial years in the Queen City. Circumstances compelled Dell to sign with the Hornets. He had to juggle the move and take care of his newborn Steph simultaneously, complicating things. So, despite the nostalgia, and the fact that Charlotteans are proud of their connections with the Currys, the early period in the North Carolina city is something that Steph’s mother would like to forget.

Sonya discussed moving to Charlotte after Dell was taken in by the Hornets the same year that Stephen Curry was born. While the former NBA star would later go on to find immense success with the Hornets, leaving the team as the franchise leader in 3-pointers made, his then-wife initially was not that comfortable with the decision to shift to North Carolina and leave Akron, Ohio behind.

“It’s a huge adjustment. It’s just not what people see on TV when you go…. you show up at games, you’re looking fabulous,” Sonya said in the first episode of Heat Check. “You’re traveling, doing all those kinds of things. No, it’s hard. It’s hard to find your footing in a new city. It wasn’t one of my favorite times being in the NBA. I’ll just leave it at that.”

Sonya was certainly distressed enough, and it is painful to imagine how she felt when, in the 30 years that they would live in Charlotte, the Curry family would shift 12 times in the same city. Within the 6 years after Steph was born, Sonya had also welcomed two other children, Seth and Sydel. Therefore, the shifting back and forth was something that the three had to face together. Steph, however, did not have to deal with the moving since he went to the Bay Area in 2009, after being drafted to the Warriors, and never looked back.

The move was something that the family had to make, given the huge opportunity that it provided to Dell. In an interview with The Charlotte Observer back in May 2024, Papa Curry admitted that while he wasn’t initially sure whether the Hornets were the right choice, he was fortunate that the franchise was there in his moment of need. Dell had become comfortable with the Cavs in his sole season there, having developed a good rapport with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, and Ron Harper.

However, Wayne Embry, the then-GM, informed him that he and Craig Ehlo were on the chopping block and that only one could be saved from being picked by the Hornets in the expansion draft. The GM believed that Ehlo was a better defender against Michael Jordan, and Dell’s fate was sealed.

Today, Dell is a figure fondly remembered amongst the people of Charlotte. That same courtesy has been extended to his eldest son, despite the latter’s loyalty to the Bay Area. In September 2022, Stephen Curry was finally able to receive his diploma from Davidson College, the school that also inducted him into its Hall of Fame and retired his jersey. Mayor Vi Lyles bestowed a key to the city to the NBA star.

In his acceptance speech, Curry displayed his love for the city by stating “Charlotte is in my blood. It’s in my DNA. I’m so proud. When anybody asks, ‘Where are you from?’ I wasn’t born here, but I am from Charlotte. Best 21 years of my life, spent it here, and I carry that with me everywhere I go.” However, even Steph had to deal with some troubles when adjusting to life in the Queen City.

Stephen Curry was bullied in Charlotte High School because of Dell and Sonya’s popularity!

Having a beautiful mother is usually the best compliment that a son could receive. However, the same thing ended up being used against Stephen Curry during his high school days. Sonya was often in the public spotlight, with her presence being marked during Dell’s games and any moment they shared in public. Her beauty ended up becoming a way for Steph’s competitors to engage in trash-talk, as he revealed during a 2014 ESPN interview.

“Oh man, that’s the worst. I mean obviously she’s definitely a beautiful lady. And I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree,”  Curry said while pointing at himself. “But she definitely gets her TV time when she comes to support myself, my brother, at our games…Hey, I’ll take it in strides. Just be respectful about it. Don’t have to talk too much trash.”

More than Sonya, it was Dell who the people of Charlotte were aware about. As a result, Steph had to also deal with some trash-talk moments related to nepotism, as he revealed with a chuckle, “That (trash-talk about Sonya) and them telling me my dad paid off the refs-one of the two insults where they made their name.”

Today, while people can continue accusing Stephen Curry of nepotism, they also cannot deny that his individual caliber is what has allowed him to be amongst the greatest hoopers of the modern era. Furthermore, any misgivings about the city have now been forgotten by both mother and son. Steph may never play for the Hornets, but Charlotte will still be an important part of his legacy.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.