For most players, draft night is the moment that defines their basketball journey. Long before championships, MVPs, or Hall of Fame inductions, that first call from the Commissioner is etched into memory. Some prospects come from nowhere, defying impossible odds. Others enter the league with family legacies behind them, fathers who once played the game and know the grind it takes to get there.
Stephen Curry belonged to the latter. His father, Dell Curry, carved out a respected 16-year NBA career. Dell’s presence gave Steph both guidance and a standard to chase. By the time Steph finished three years at Davidson, his shooting brilliance was obvious, but concerns lingered. His frame looked too slight, his health was a question, and front offices debated whether his game could scale at the professional level.
The Golden State Warriors were willing to gamble. What most fans don’t realize is that Dell himself advised against it.
A Phone Call That Changed Everything
In 2009, Golden State prepared to use the seventh pick on Curry if he lasted that long. Before making it official, head coach Don Nelson placed a call to Curry’s camp. Dell answered. What followed surprised everyone in the room.
Dell told Nelson directly that he preferred the Warriors not draft his son. His hope was for Steph to slip to the New York Knicks, who held the eighth pick. Nelson made clear Golden State intended to take him if available. Dell did not budge, telling him, “That’s your choice. You asked me and I’m telling you the truth.”
The Knicks had always been the dream. Madison Square Garden, the lights of Manhattan, the marketing reach of the world’s biggest stage. Dell had spent his own career in smaller markets. Seeing “Curry” shine under New York’s spotlight carried an obvious appeal.
History had other plans.
New York’s Missed Vision
Curry’s career trajectory in New York remains one of the great “what ifs.” On paper, the fit looked perfect: a spectacular shooter with the charisma to ignite the Garden every night. Yet the Warriors stood firm. Looking back now, Dell has admitted gratitude that Golden State ignored his advice, though he has never fully explained why. Perhaps it is because New York, still searching for identity in the post-Ewing years, never provided the environment young talent needed.
While the Knicks missed their chance, they were hardly alone. Draft night in 2009 was filled with teams who passed on greatness.
The Draft That Changed Everything
Blake Griffin was the unquestioned number one pick. After that, the order was uncertain. Memphis took Hasheem Thabeet at two. Oklahoma City landed James Harden at three. Sacramento went with Tyreke Evans at four. Minnesota made history by taking Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn with back-to-back picks at five and six. Then Golden State stepped in at seven.
Only Harden joined Curry in becoming a generational star. The others faded or plateaued, while Curry revolutionized the sport.
The Lasting Consequences
Draft night is unforgiving. Teams that get it right can secure a decade of contention. Teams that get it wrong can spend that same decade chasing answers. The Knicks, at least, had no control. Curry was gone before their turn. For the Grizzlies, Kings, Timberwolves, and Clippers, the missed opportunity may have been the closest they ever came to changing their destinies.
Golden State’s decision altered the balance of power in the NBA. The Clippers are still chasing relevance beyond the Griffin era. Memphis has never reached the Finals. Sacramento is still waiting for its breakthrough. Minnesota’s choice to bypass Curry, twice, remains one of the most infamous draft decisions in league history.
As for Curry, his arrival in Oakland reshaped basketball itself. The lesson is clear. One name read on draft night can set a franchise up for glory. One hesitation, one wrong choice, can keep it waiting for decades.
