Stephen Curry on How the Night Michael Jackson Died Has a Different Emotional Memory Attached for Him

Stephen Curry has spent over 12 years in the NBA delivering in games since the start of his career. Even before joining the Golden State Warriors, he was by far the best shooter in the 2009 NBA draft. The son of Hornets legend Dell Curry, already had a lot of anticipation and expectations even before establishing himself as an NBA prospect. Curry had not played a single college game and his coach at the time already claimed that Curry was something special.

Steph attended the draft of 2009 with his family and his coach from Davidson, Bob McKillop.

The hype around Steph?s draft was just a sign of things to come as the boy from Davidson went on to have a great career in the NBA.

Stephen Curry shares his memory of the draft

Stephen Curry was featured in ‘The Knuckleheads’ podcast where he joined hosts Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. Steph recalled how he pondered about the draft pickings. He shared that he was nervous, as that was the biggest stage of his career at the time.

Curry mentioned how he was anxious for the things to come because of the fact that his father was a former NBA player himself. Steph also shared that the draft took place on the same day as the sad demise of the legendary Michael Jackson.

Steph shared the advice he got from his father, ?You are gonna get compared and you gonna have the shadow and all that stuff but you have to just live in your own journey.?

He continued, ?That night was the start of it and it was an emotional night though, it was his birthday and it?s the night Michael Jackson died so like all that was happening and then? um you know got drafted by the Warriors and all the Knicks fans started booing(laughs).?

Read more:?Stephen Curry shares his experience of facing Kobe Bryant.

GSW was not the first destination for Curry

In the 2009 NBA draft, the Curry family was not completely in favor of the move to the Golden State Warriors. They preferred the number 8 pick by the New York Knicks more than any other possibility.

Dell Curry thought that the fast-paced system of the New York Knicks would suit him. In his opinion, Mike D?Antoni as the coach would be the perfect fit for Steph.

However, no one was a bigger fan of the 6?2 point guard from Davidson College than the Warriors coach Don Nelson and GM Larry Riley.

?I remember Don Nelson calling me and saying, ?Hey, what?s your feelings toward us drafting your son??? Dell Curry said. ?I said, ?Don?t. You ask me the question, I?m going to tell you the truth. Don?t.?? referring to the fact that he wanted his son to be with the Knicks.

?Conversation went on and he said, ?Well if we get the opportunity we?re going to do it.? I said, ?Coach, that?s your decision.?? shared Dell.

Also read: Curry family’s “secret recipe”.

Stephen, on the other hand, had more focus on the journey than the team he would cover the journey for.

?I’ll make the best of whatever happens,? Stephen Curry said. ?I’d love to go to New York, but I’m going to show up on time and give my best effort for whatever team that drafts me.?

This is the reason why Knick fans started booing as soon as Warriors picked him on the 7th pick.

As fate had it, Golden State Warriors drafted him, and he has stayed with them ever since. Three NBA championships and two MVP awards later, the 2009 draft looks like something written in stars. Stephen Curry has now gone on to become arguably the best shooter in NBA history.