Dell Curry
Encyclopedia
Wardell Stephen "Dell" Curry (born June 25, 1964) is a retired American
professional basketball
player at the shooting guard
and the small forward
positions who received his education from Fort Defiance High School
in Virginia and Virginia Tech
. He then played in the National Basketball Association
from 1986 until 2002. He now works as a commentator, alongside Steve Martin, on the Bobcats television broadcasts. As of 2010, he is still the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets all-time leader in points (9,839) and three-point field goals made (929).
, Virginia
. He went to Fort Defiance High School
in Fort Defiance, Virginia
. In his senior year, Curry won a state championship for Fort in both basketball and baseball. As a child he would shoot with two hands. Curry broke his left wrist at the age of 9 and was forced to shoot with one hand and develop correct shooting form. Curry played basketball and baseball in high school and college, and he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 14th round of the 1985 MLB Draft, but opted to continue playing basketball.
along with contemporaries Bobby Beecher, Perry Young, and Keith Colbert. The team appeared in the 1983 and 1984 NIT
tournaments, finishing 3rd in 1984. Although the team qualified for at-large bids to the NCAA tournament in 1985 and 1986, it lost in the first round on both occasions. NCAA
basketball did not feature a three-point
line during Curry's collegiate career, so his accurate long-range shooting was not rewarded as it would be later in his NBA career.
in the 1986 NBA Draft
after attending Virginia Tech. He played one season in Utah before moving on to the Cleveland Cavaliers
in 1987 for another season. He was selected by one of the NBA's two newest teams for the 1988-89 season
, the Charlotte Hornets
, in the expansion draft
after he was made available by the Cavaliers. In Charlotte, Curry was primarily used off the bench where he was utilized as an instant scoring threat, especially from behind the three-point
line. He played ten seasons for the Hornets and currently ranks among the franchise's all-time statistical leaders in points, games played, three-point field goals made and attempted, and three-point field goal percentage. He was a regular vote-receiver for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
and the conclusion of the 1993-94 season
finally saw him become the recipient of the trophy.
Curry also played one season for the Milwaukee Bucks
and his final three seasons for the Toronto Raptors
. He holds career averages of 11.7 points per game and 40.2 percent from three-point range. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Charlotte Hornets with 9839 points. In addition, he was the last remaining original member of the team first fielded in the 1988-89 NBA season
.
, but he stepped down before the season began so that he could attend his sons' basketball games.
.
, who played basketball at Davidson College
in Davidson, North Carolina
, and was chosen 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors
in the 2009 NBA Draft
. He is also the father of Seth Curry
, who currently plays at Duke University
after spending the 2008–09 season at Liberty University
before transferring. He also has a daughter named Sydell. Dell Curry's wife's name is Sonya. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, golfing, and water skiing. He has his own foundation, "The Dell Curry Foundation", which is a youth oriented program in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player at the shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
and the small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
positions who received his education from Fort Defiance High School
Fort Defiance High School
Fort Defiance High School is a public school located in Fort Defiance, Virginia. It is often referred to by its initials, FDHS or Fort.-Academics:...
in Virginia and Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. He then played in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
from 1986 until 2002. He now works as a commentator, alongside Steve Martin, on the Bobcats television broadcasts. As of 2010, he is still the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets all-time leader in points (9,839) and three-point field goals made (929).
Early life
Curry was born in HarrisonburgHarrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He went to Fort Defiance High School
Fort Defiance High School
Fort Defiance High School is a public school located in Fort Defiance, Virginia. It is often referred to by its initials, FDHS or Fort.-Academics:...
in Fort Defiance, Virginia
Fort Defiance, Virginia
Fort Defiance is an unincorporated community in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Augusta Stone Church was established in the area now known as Fort Defiance in 1740...
. In his senior year, Curry won a state championship for Fort in both basketball and baseball. As a child he would shoot with two hands. Curry broke his left wrist at the age of 9 and was forced to shoot with one hand and develop correct shooting form. Curry played basketball and baseball in high school and college, and he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 14th round of the 1985 MLB Draft, but opted to continue playing basketball.
College career
Curry was a four-year starter at Virginia TechVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
along with contemporaries Bobby Beecher, Perry Young, and Keith Colbert. The team appeared in the 1983 and 1984 NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
tournaments, finishing 3rd in 1984. Although the team qualified for at-large bids to the NCAA tournament in 1985 and 1986, it lost in the first round on both occasions. NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
basketball did not feature a three-point
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
line during Curry's collegiate career, so his accurate long-range shooting was not rewarded as it would be later in his NBA career.
NBA career
The Curry was selected 15th overall by the Utah JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1986 NBA Draft
1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
after attending Virginia Tech. He played one season in Utah before moving on to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in 1987 for another season. He was selected by one of the NBA's two newest teams for the 1988-89 season
1988-89 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
, the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the...
, in the expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
after he was made available by the Cavaliers. In Charlotte, Curry was primarily used off the bench where he was utilized as an instant scoring threat, especially from behind the three-point
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
line. He played ten seasons for the Hornets and currently ranks among the franchise's all-time statistical leaders in points, games played, three-point field goals made and attempted, and three-point field goal percentage. He was a regular vote-receiver for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute . A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout...
and the conclusion of the 1993-94 season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
finally saw him become the recipient of the trophy.
Curry also played one season for the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
and his final three seasons for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
. He holds career averages of 11.7 points per game and 40.2 percent from three-point range. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Charlotte Hornets with 9839 points. In addition, he was the last remaining original member of the team first fielded in the 1988-89 NBA season
1988-89 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
.
Coaching career
On June 18, 2007, he was named assistant coach of the NBA's Charlotte BobcatsCharlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
, but he stepped down before the season began so that he could attend his sons' basketball games.
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
In 2004, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of FameVirginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a sports hall of fame located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1972, it moved to its current location in 2005...
.
Personal life
Dell Curry is the father of Stephen CurryStephen Curry (basketball)
-Freshman season:Before Stephen Curry played even one college game, head coach, Bob McKillop, said at a Davidson Alumni event, "Wait till you see Steph Curry...
, who played basketball at Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
in Davidson, North Carolina
Davidson, North Carolina
Davidson is a town in Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 7,139 at the 2000 census. It is home to Davidson College...
, and was chosen 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. He is also the father of Seth Curry
Seth Curry
Seth Adham Curry is an American basketball player and native of Charlotte, North Carolina, who plays collegiately for Duke University. He is the son of former Virginia Tech, NBA star, Dell Curry, and former volleyball standout, Sonya Curry...
, who currently plays at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
after spending the 2008–09 season at Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
before transferring. He also has a daughter named Sydell. Dell Curry's wife's name is Sonya. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, golfing, and water skiing. He has his own foundation, "The Dell Curry Foundation", which is a youth oriented program in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.