During the recently-concluded 2009 NBA draft, seventh pick over-all Wardell Stephen Curry II or simply Stephen Curry of little-known Davidson College stole the thunder from top pick over-all Blake Griffin of Oklahoma Sooners. But what makes this kid special in the eyes of NBA scouts and hardcore fanatics? Did the Golden State Warriors made the steal of the year in the annual rookie draft spectacle?
Curry, a 6-3 shooting guard and son of NBA veteran Dell Curry and former Virginia Tech volleyball star Sonya Curry, made headlines during his junior year in college hoops as he led the nation in scoring with a 28.6 ppg norm. The 21-year-old sharpshooter finished his college career as Davidson’s all-time leading scorer with 2,635 points which is 25th over-all in NCAA Division one history. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is actually being eyed by the New York Knicks but the Warriors beat them to the draw in selecting him with the seventh pick of the first round. The Phoenix Suns is another team hot on his trail and even offered all-star slotman Amare Stoudemire as trade bait. But the Bay Area outfit did not want to part ways with the rookie sensation and immediately doused cold water on the Suns trade package.
"I did a sales job," Warriors General Manager Larry Riley said. "I was concerned that he might not be as interested in us as he should be. . . . All the other guys we interviewed, I was asking a lot of questions. We did do a lot of questions (with Curry), but I went in and I made statements. I felt like I was recruiting a college kid for a college team."
There are questions whether the small-framed Curry can handle the pressure in the NBA. "That run in the NCAA tournament, that's big stuff," Riley said. "I understand, you're only playing in front of maybe 6,000 at the Davidson games. But he steps on the big stage at the NCAA Tournament and handles it. Then he goes to Madison Square Garden this year and handles the Garden. He can handle it."
Being the son of an NBA veteran adds up more in the pressure cooker. "I'd say its innate just watching my dad," Curry said. "I've seen media exposure, following him, shadowing him. You see the cameras coming and how he handles it. I'm no stranger to pressure and handling that on the big stages. I can take that experience and turn it into confidence going onto the next level. I'm up for the challenge.”
Even with all the accolades that came his way during his college playing years and now as an incoming Warrior, Curry remains humble as ever. “He ain't changed one bit," said Warriors second-year guard Anthony Morrow, who has been friends with Curry since the two played against each other while at rival Charlotte high schools. "Not even exaggerating. He is the same Steph from when he was in high school. Great kid."
Riley is all praises and undeniably can’t hide his excitement with Curry’s entry to the Warriors rotation and in what he foresees as a deadly-backcourt combination with point guard Monta Ellis. "He never dropped his head through the worst of adversity and did everything he could to try to keep them in it," Riley said. "Some guys go out and make a double-bogey, it ruins their day. Not this guy."
If ever Curry runs away with the ROY award and propel the Warriors to greater heights next season, the six teams which bypassed him in the draft would surely scratch their heads in dismay.
With Riley and the Warriors having the last laugh.
*****
Herewith are the transactions completed covering the period July 10 to 17, 2009 :
Friday, July 17
Los Angeles Clippers traded guard Quentin Richardson to Memphis for forward Zach Randolph.
Oklahoma City waived guard Earl Watson.
Sacramento named Bryan Gates assistant coach.
Guard Cartier Martin signed with Benetton Treviso (Italy).
Thursday, July 16
Utah matched the offer sheet tendered to forward Paul Millsap by Portland.
San Antonio signed forward DeJuan Blair.
Wednesday, July 15
Phoenix re-signed forward Grant Hill.
Denver signed guard Ty Lawson.
Tuesday, July 14
Phoenix signed forward Channing Frye.
Atlanta traded the draft rights to forward David Andersen to Houston for a future second-round pick, cash and future considerations.
Utah re-signed guard Ronnie Price.
Chicago waived forward Tim Thomas.
Indiana signed guard Dahntay Jones.
Monday, July 13
Orlando matched the offer sheet tendered to center Marcin Gortat by Dallas.
Charlotte signed forward Derrick Brown.
Phoenix waived center Ben Wallace.
New Orleans named Rob Werdann assistant coach.
Atlanta re-signed guard Mike Bibby and center Zaza Pachulia.
Chicago re-signed guard Lindsey Hunter and signed guard Jannero Pargo.
Toronto signed guard Jarrett Jack to an offer sheet.
Detroit traded guard Arron Afflalo and forward Walter Sharpe to Denver for a 2011 second-round pick and cash.
Cleveland signed guard Anthony Parker.
Sunday, July 12
Los Angeles Clippers signed named Tony Brown assistant coach.
Saturday, July 11
New York signed forward Jordan Hill.
Dallas re-signed guard Jason Kidd.
Oklahoma City signed guard James Harden, forward Serge Ibaka and center BJ Mullens.
Friday, July 10
Utah re-signed center Mehmet Okur.
Portland exercised the contract option on head coach Nate McMillan through 2010-11 and signed forward Paul Millsap to an offer sheet.
San Antonio signed forward Antonio McDyess.
Memphis waived guard Jerry Stackhouse.
Minnesota signed guards Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington.
Orlando signed forward Brandon Bass.
Sacramento signed forward Omri Casspi.
Phoenix signed forward Earl Clark.
Toronto signed guard DeMar DeRozan.
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