Dell Curry

Lore & Background

Dell Curry was selected 15th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1986 NBA draft. He played one season in Utah, then one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1988 expansion draft. He spent 10 seasons in Charlotte, mostly coming off the bench, and won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1993–94. He was the last player remaining from the Hornets' inaugural season when he left in 1998. He later played one season for the Milwaukee Bucks and three for the Toronto Raptors. His career averages are 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Coliseum hummed with anticipation as the clock wound down to zero. Dell Curry stood at the top of the key, the teal jersey tight against his frame, eyes locked on the rim. The defense swarmed, but he had been here a thousand times before in practice. With a quick crossover and a smooth release, the ball arced high into the arena lights. It was the kind of shot that defined a career—a perfect three-pointer that silenced the crowd and cemented his place as the Hornets' first true star.

Reader's Guide

Dell Curry played shooting guard and small forward, not point guard. He was never selected as an NBA All-Star. His jersey number 30 has not been retired by the Charlotte Hornets. He played for the Hornets from 1988 to 1998, not 1988–1992. His career average is 11.7 points per game, not over 17. He left the Hornets in 1998, not 1992.

Did You Know?

• Dell Curry was a McDonald's All-American in 1982 and also played baseball, being drafted by the Texas Rangers that same year.
• He finished his Virginia Tech career with 2,389 points (second all-time) and 295 steals (all-time leader).
• Curry was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, his first year of eligibility.
• He was named the Metro Conference Player of the Year in 1986.
• Curry and his wife Sonya founded the Christian Montessori School of Lake Norman in 1995.