Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are playing in their sixth NBA Finals in the last eight seasons. Media day is old hat for Curry and the three-time champions. On Wednesday Curry was asked about his impressions of the organization when he was drafted in 2009. They were far from the dynasty they are now. Curry admittedly didn’t know a whole lot and wasn’t thinking about the Warriors, assuming he would be selected eighth by the New York Knicks.
“When I got drafted, I thought I was going to New York,” Curry said. “And didn’t really have Golden State on the radar at all.”
"I thought I was going to New York."
Steph thought he was getting drafted by the Knicks đ pic.twitter.com/hVdicXsXpn
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 1, 2022
The Knicks had the eighth pick, but the Warriors scooped Curry up immediately before with the seventh pick, and the rest is history. The multiple MVPs, All-NBA, All-Stars and championships were never going to happen as a member of the Knicks. It just wasn’t meant to be.
The Knicks talked too much ahead of the 2009 draft and let it be known that Curry was their preferred target. Good franchises don’t say anything to anyone about potential picks. They hold their cards close to the vest. But the Knicks organization and their many leaks has everyone aware that Curry was their man.
Despite their inability to keep quiet, they still almost landed Curry, as a few teams ahead of them in the draft made horrible selections.
The Memphis Grizzlies had the second pick and chose Hasheem Thabeet. They drafted Mike Conley in 2007 and believed they already had their point guard of the future.
The Sacramento Kings had the fourth pick and chose Tyreke Evans. He did win Rookie of the Year but was an ineffective volume scorer the rest of his career.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were really the team that messed up. They had the fifth and sixth picks and selected Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn consecutively before the Warriors grabbed Curry.
Things got off to a rocky start for Curry in Golden State. The team finished below .500 in his first three seasons and he was plagued by ankle injuries that saw him miss a lot of time. And incumbent guard Monta Ellis wasn’t sold on the skinny small shooter from Davidson. But the Warriors stuck with Curry, and it’s worked.
“But to see the evolution from that year to now, and the fact that six out of the last eight years we’ve been in the Finals,” Curry continued. “It’s crazy to think about for sure and speaks to all the different people who have had a part in that: myself, Draymond, Klay, Andre. All the vets that have played significant roles for us. Our front office, Joe and Peter. It’s been an amazing run. We obviously feel like we still have a lot left in the tank. That’s why we’re here.”
The Warriors will face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, and a win would be his fourth title and the franchiseâs seventh. Their current dynastic success began with selecting Curry in 2009 and allowing him to develop into the franchise cornerstone.
