Dell Curry played 16 years in the NBA, averaging 11.7 points while shooting 40.2% from 3-point range throughout his career. Of course, he is also the father of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry, and he currently serves as a broadcaster for Hornets games.
PFSN recently had a chance to catch up with Dell to discuss his playing days, his NBA GOAT pick, how much longer Stephen will play, his son’s impact on modern basketball, the upcoming American Century Championship, and much more.
A Wide-Ranging Conversation With Dell Curry
You’re a broadcaster for the Hornets, who have the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. What do you think this team needs to do to turn things around and get back to being a playoff team?
Dell Curry: “Be patient and just continue to acquire as much talent as possible. The NBA is tough. When you’re in a rebuild, the worst thing you can do is become impatient. I think the owners and the front office understand that you’re not going to turn this around overnight. It’s going to take years of continual improvement.
“Getting quality players off the floor, on the floor, and then developing that talent, having them take a look, and maybe bring in a veteran guide to share exactly how hard it is to get to where you want to go as a franchise. But just being patient and making sure that you select the right talent and that talent develops.
“The fans have to be patient. The new ownership, they’re going to get it done. They know what they’re doing. The front office, I have all the faith in the world that they’re going to get it done, but it’s going to take time. The Hornets deserve to be back and have a winning franchise. They know that, and they’re going to get it done. You just gotta get talent and have patience.”
You have been a broadcaster throughout LeBron James’ career, and you obviously played against Michael Jordan. Who is your pick in the NBA’s GOAT debate?
Curry: “Michael Jordan. There’s no question. I mean, I respect LeBron. I played most of my career against Jordan. He is the GOAT, in my opinion, and there’s no hesitation in that answer.”
Is there a certain MJ matchup or story that stands out to you?
Curry: “I played all but one year in the Eastern Conference, so I played against Michael a lot, especially here in Charlotte. He’s from Wilmington. You knew when the Bulls came in, you better have your A game, but it challenged you to see just how well you could play against the best player to ever play…
“I have so many moments of being wowed, whether I was guarding him or watching him. But I was just fortunate and blessed to be able to share the court with that guy on a nightly basis and compete against him.”
April 8, 1996: The Hornets end the Bulls’ 44-game home win streak with a 98-97 win in the United Center, dropping Chicago’s season record to 66-9.
Kenny Anderson scored 20 PTS & Dell Curry had 19 for Charlotte. Michael Jordan had 40 PTS/11 REB for Chicago.pic.twitter.com/uzBLhFrIoR
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) April 8, 2023
Stephen is widely regarded as the greatest shooter of all time, and his impact on basketball is amazing. He influenced an entire generation. When you look at the impact that Stephen has had, what does that mean to you?
Curry: “It makes me proud as a father to know how he changed the game, the impact that he had, his love for the game, his dedication, his discipline. I see him work off the floor and then in the offseason when nobody’s watching – the fans just see the results of that hard work – and that’s what makes me the proudest.
“He does not take the game or his career for granted. He wants to get better every year. He’s already in the gym – he’s been in the gym as soon as he was healthy enough this summer. [He still wants] to get better. To be playing at the level that he is at 37 years old and having the mindset that he knows he could still win another title, that’s all [he wants]. I mean, he’s done everything in his career.
“His ultimate goal is to win another ring, and he’s striving to do that. It makes me proud, just to know how much he loved the game – growing up around it, watching his dad play for 16 years, going in the locker room and saying, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and then fulfilling that goal through hard work and dedication.
“I spoke to some kids the other day and parents, they were like, ‘How’d you get your sons to the NBA?’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t do it!’ Parents, listen to me: If you think you can get your son or daughter to the level that you want ’em to get to, it’s not going to happen. They have to have the ability, the dedication, the desire, and the work ethic to do it themselves.
“Of course, I had the resources to put some of the best trainers and coaches [around them] and myself to give them that knowledge, but just the mindset that they have, ‘This is what I want to do, and I know what it takes,’ and for them to do it makes me proud.”
You mentioned that he has done everything in his career. Steph recently made some comments about his post-NBA career plans, talking about potentially owning a team, golfing on a senior tour, or becoming a broadcaster. How much longer do you think Steph will play, and what advice would you give him about deciding when to walk away?
Curry: “I think it’ll be his decision when to walk away. A lot of guys play until the teams or the league tell you, ‘We can’t use your services anymore.’ I think he could be well into his 40s because he can shoot the ball and requires that you have to guard him. That’ll create space for other players on the floor, so I think that decision will be totally up to him.
“For me, it was when I couldn’t put the effort in during the offseason to prepare myself for that next year. I think that’ll be the case with him as well. You cannot drop the ball in the offseason and think you’re going to pick it up in September and October and have a full year of grinding it out in an NBA season and give the fans and your teammates what they expect from you. I think that’ll be the calling card – when he can’t work out and prepare himself for the next season.
“He still has those competitive juices – those are far from leaving him. He has the game, the will, so it’s up to him. I don’t think… Obviously, he’s 37, so we’re not talking six or eight years, but he has many, several years left at this ability to play in the league.
“I think he’ll sit back, take his time. Like you said, there are a lot of things on the table that he can do. He’ll probably have his choice on what he wants to do, what he wants to work toward – being an owner, being a broadcaster. I dunno if there’s a scenario where all that can happen, but hey…”
Look at Tom Brady!
Curry: “Yeah, right? Yeah! I think he’ll have his choice of what he wants to do when his career is over, and I think that’s a testament to the player and the person and the career that he’s built. His services will be required, whatever he wants to do.”
That’s always the dream – to decide when you walk away and have a ton of options. I think he would thrive as a broadcaster or as a coach.
Curry: “I don’t know if coach is in [the mix]. (laughs)”
You and Stephen are both competing in the American Century Championship from July 9-13 on NBC and Peacock. Stephen missed last year’s event, but he’s back this year. How much fun is it for you to be able to compete against your sons on the golf course?
Curry: “He missed last year because of the Olympics and won it the year before, so it’s a tournament that he absolutely loves to play in, and I don’t foresee him missing another tournament because of his schedule.
“He makes his schedule around this tournament every year! The Olympics is just something he couldn’t pass up, but it’s always one of the best weeks of the year for me and my two boys and a group of buddies that come up and hang with us.
“American Century and NBC do a fabulous job taking care of us, putting on a great show, a great tournament. The other celebrities are really class acts. The fans are involved. The par-three holes are fun, so every year we look forward to going up to Tahoe and having one of the best weeks of our year. It’s time for us to just relax, chill, but also have a little internal family competitive game and compare our game to the other celebrities there.”
I’m always amazed at the list of names that American Century assembles. In addition to your sons, is there anyone in particular that you’re excited to interact with or compete against this year?
Curry: “We play Friday, Saturday, Sunday – the first day I play with my two sons, and then the last two days, you play based on scores. A lot of times, I end up with Derek Lowe and Mark Mulder, so that means I’m playing pretty well if I’m playing against those guys. [John] Smoltz.
“I played baseball growing up. I played baseball in college. I was drafted out of high school and college, so to be able to walk 18 holes with those guys who pitched in the majors and talk about their experiences, it’s always a fun time for me.
“But again, all the celebrities, we know each other, we know each other’s careers. We know how well you played in your respective sport, but I just enjoy whoever it is I’m playing against and matched up against, and you can tell it’s a fun walk. We enjoy talking to each other, but we’re competing against each other at the same time, so it’s that fine line of, ‘Hey, we’re friends, we’re walking, but I’m trying to beat you.’ I love that part of it.”
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Speaking of competing, I’m sure you, Steph, and Seth had some incredible one-on-one battles when they were growing up. Do you remember the first time that Steph or Seth was able to beat you one-on-one?
Curry: “Steph beat me at golf [and basketball] for the first time, one-on-one, when he was 13. He actually beat me at golf first. We’re on a family vacation on my birthday.”
Man, on your birthday?!
Curry: “Yeah, on my birthday! Yeah, I was a late bloomer – I was late getting started in golf, and I got my boys started pretty much when I did, so we kind of learned the golf game together. Stephen really took to it and learned the game a little quicker than both me and Seth. I don’t play them [in basketball]. After Stephen beat me one-on-one in basketball at 13, I refused to play them. I refused to play Seth one-on-one because I’m not getting beat. (laughs) That was not a fun time for me, knowing my sons are going to beat me in one-on-one and I played 16 years in the NBA. I can still shoot around and win some HORSE games, but yeah, we always have a good time.
“The golf course is where we spend most of our time now, being competitive. It’s a fun time. Seth has really taken to the game. He’s really gotten good. We spotted him way too many points last year. We have the Curry Belt now.
“Steph made these big wrestling belts for the winner and the caddy. We spotted Seth way too many points last year, so we are going to have to adjust that. He beat us pretty handily, so we will figure it out, but golf is just where we spend and enjoy most of our time together.”
