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DAVIDSON -- Stephen Curry thinks he's ready. I believe he is ready.
As for Davidson? It's not ready.
Curry's decision to skip his senior year and go to the NBA was the correct one from an economic standpoint. If you set emotions aside, the 2010 NBA draft will probably be a lot more loaded than this 2009 version. And Curry wants to play basketball for a living – he's wanted that since going to Charlotte Hornets games and watching his dad Dell play during the glory years of that franchise.
"I'm at peace with this decision," Curry said. "I needed to take hold of this opportunity while I had it."
He added that he didn't make the final call until breakfast Thursday morning, when he ate an omelet on campus across from teammate Steve Rossiter.
Curry said Thursday at his news conference he was told he would be picked anywhere from No.7 to No.20 in June's NBA draft. Those guaranteed millions would make this a no-brainer for many.
But he wavered for weeks about this decision because he was so wedded to the Davidson college experience, his teammates and the idea that he should get his college degree before leaving.
Finally, the NBA won out. Davidson fans were left to bemoan their fate, having just lost the best Wildcats player any of them will see for the rest of their lifetimes one year early. I believe Davidson's basketball program and its fans will struggle more in the 2009-10 season than Curry will.
"When I came here, I thought it was going to be for four years, with my teammates and my class," Curry said. "That's hard to walk away from before I have to."
Curry will hire an agent soon, meaning there is no turning back on this decision. That's why there were so many puffy-eyed men at Belk Arena Thursday. Curry, coach Bob McKillop, the Curry family and Davidson's players took turns fighting back tears.
Another journey is about to begin for Curry. The hometown Charlotte Bobcats might well have a chance to draft him in June. The NBA draft order is not set, but it's most likely the Bobcats will pick around No.12.
Would they choose Curry? I'd like to see it, but I think it's unlikely. The Bobcats already have a young point guard who can score in D.J. Augustin (whom Curry consulted before making this decision). Curry's skill set is similar to Augustin's.
Wherever he goes, Curry will be a far better NBA player than, say, Adam Morrison or J.J. Redick. Curry is not just a one-trick pony who shoots 3-pointers. His quick hands allowed him to lead the Southern Conference in steals and assists this season.
Curry has a famous fan in Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James.
James said in December after watching him score 44 in a win against N.C. State that Curry could be a player similar to Detroit guard Richard Hamilton.
That's great company. Hamilton is a 10-year vet, a three-time NBA all-star and an 18-points-per-game scorer.
"Steph is a guy who can create for himself and also for others with his passing ability," James said. "He's like a Rip Hamilton in our league. He never stops moving. Those types of players, they're hard to guard. No matter how big you are, guys in the NBA don't want to continue to chase guys like that."
McKillop, meanwhile, must rebuild a Davidson team that loses its consensus All-American and two other senior starters. Nevertheless, give the coach credit for playing this one down the middle, advising Curry without trying too hard to influence him.
"If there's anything selfishly that I'm sad about, it's that the fans won't get their opportunity to say their farewells and goodbyes to him throughout his senior year," McKillop said. "He's not going to stand there and have his mom and dad escort him on senior day.
"He's not going to have that picture of himself and his teammates in caps and gowns on graduation day. I'm sad for the incompletion of that process. But I'm overjoyed by what Stephen has accomplished, what he leaves behind, and the opportunity that awaits him."
Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140; sfowler@charlotteobserver.com.
Curry By The Numbers
Davidson went 85-20 in Stephen Curry's three years at the school, with one National Invitation Tournament appearance and two NCAA tournament berths, including the 2008 season when the Wildcats got within two points of the Final Four. Here are a handful of other numbers that will be part of the Curry legacy:
1 Curry's rank at Davidson and in the Southern Conference in total points (2,635).
7 Courses short of graduating from Davidson. Unless Davidson changes its policy, Curry's jersey can't be retired until he graduates.
28.6 Curry's average per game his junior season, tops in the NCAA.
30 Not only Curry's uniform number, but also the number of times he scored 30 or more points in a Davidson game.
32 Points per game average in the 2008 NCAA tournament, when Curry burst onto the national scene.
44 Years since Davidson had a consensus first-team All-American (Fred Hetzel in 1965) until Curry became one in 2009.
414 Career 3-pointers, fourth on the all-time NCAA list.
