‘The city deserves it for sure’: Steph Curry hopeful hometown Hornets will turn it around
Ensuring a few words wouldn’t spark a huge conflagration that could be splashed across social media, Steph Curry qualified his thought.
Golden State’s superstar and Charlotte’s own was speaking about Seth Curry, discussing how little brother is getting an opportunity to do something that’s distinctive and unique: playing for the hometown Charlotte Hornets while donning the same number father Dell Curry sported during his days with the franchise.
“It’s special when they wear their throwback pinstripes and I see ‘Curry 30’ on the back — that’s wild,” Steph Curry said. “This ain’t no headline stuff, but you always wonder what it would be like to play here, representing the Curry family, the legacy. Seth gets to do it. So, it’s cool.
“But I need to get me one of those pinstriped 2024-25 jerseys because I know I’ve got one of my dad’s old school ones, too.”
Steph Curry made his yearly excursion to his hometown on Monday night, getting his usual king-like welcome. The Currys are basketball royalty in Charlotte and that was once again evident in the Hornets’ 119-101 loss to the Warriors at Spectrum Center.
Whenever Steph Curry comes to the area, the atmosphere is typically super-charged, making it feel more akin to a postseason game since it seems like everyone in the building is rooting for the kid who went to Davidson and became a household name, bursting onto the national scene after some impressive showings in the NCAA Tournament with the Wildcats.
The 36-year-old’s latest visit had an extra twist, though, all because of that extra element.
Unlike a year ago in February, when the teams met in uptown, Seth Curry wasn’t relegated to joining father Dell Curry as a guest analyst in the FanDuel Sports Southeast booth because of an injury. That alone also represented a mini victory, considering the woes the Hornets have dealt with this season.
More than anything, though, he was just pleased to be available for a rare moment.
“It never happens,” Seth Curry, 34, said. “Me and Steph have played against each other a lot, but for it to be in Charlotte with my dad calling the game is something that never really happens. So, it’s special for the family and good for the city. A little bit of extra buzz in the arena.”
That was the case long before the opening tip, when Dell Curry sat in the stands during Golden State’s morning shootaround, eyes affixed on Steph Curry.
Dell Curry was getting another look at that jumpshot he helped refine, which has propelled Steph Curry to 37,587 career points and counting, and also has the duo boasting the third-most points totaled by a father-son combination in NBA history, trailing only LeBron and Bronny James and Joe and Kobe Bryant.
Those kinds of things are what made Steph Curry’s latest visit all the more enjoyable.
“It’s everything,” said Steph Curry, who posted 21 points and 10 rebounds. “It gives me perspective. This is my 16th year, which is a milestone for the family. My dad played this many years. It was always a goal of mine to get here. So, it’s always a cool reflection being in the 16th year, playing in Charlotte, playing against your brother, dad is up in the booth, have like 35 people tonight.
“It’s meaningful for sure.”
All because they know Father Time will be knocking at their respective doors relatively soon.
“It’s late in both of our careers so you don’t know how many more times we are going to get to do this,” Seth Curry said. “We’re just trying to have fun with it.”
As usual; they’ve had a tad bit of practice over the years.
“It took me a couple of games early on to not cheer for him and I kind of let my guard down a little bit because you want him to succeed so much,” Steph Curry said. “But then you realize you can’t let him do it. So, it took me a couple of reps to get underneath that, but now it’s fun to see him in the scouting report and all that.
“But when you get on the court it’s all business.”
Just like it’s been throughout an impressive career that includes four championship rings, two MVP awards and a piece of hardware for earning a Finals MVP nod. On top of ranking No. 1 in NBA history in made 3-pointers, a number that sits at 3,977, leaving him just shy of 4,000.
The milestones and accolades keep rolling on.
“It’s great to see,” Seth Curry said. “I’ve seen his whole path, his whole career. He’s still doing it at this age, which is special. So, as a fan and obviously I get to see the behind the scenes and all the work that he puts in, that makes it even more special. Being one of the all-time greats is something we never really thought of.”
Same with sitting on opposite sides of the court in an arena they know so well. Even in their wildest teenage dreams during the early 2000s, such a scenario didn’t unfold. Ever.
“Nah, we never really thought it,” Seth Curry said. “We both obviously wanted to play in the NBA, but never really thought something this big or something like this could happen. The chances are so slim. You try to take advantage of it. We played against each other so many times you kind of get used to that. But this is kind of a different element to it and kind of re-sparks it.”
In part because of Dell Curry on the mic breaking down the action, jockeying between proud dad and TV analyst from his perch alongside play-by-play man Eric Collins up in Section 105.
“It’s huge for the family,” Seth Curry said. “It’s probably more big for the family to watch than even us to play in and be a part of. So, it represents the city well, so many people that were involved in our journey get to watch the game and try to reminisce in our path and our growth to get here.”
Several of those well-wishers hung around until the very end, waiting for the 11-time All-Star and MVP of the 2025 NBA All-Star game in San Francisco in February to board the second of two team buses headed to Charlotte Douglas International Airport to catch the Warriors’ private charter, bound for New York.
The countdown is already on for the prodigal son’s next date in 2025-26 against the franchise he hopes turns it around and gets back to the glory days he experienced growing up with his father.
“Deep down I’m always rooting for the Hornets, the Panthers,” Steph Curry said, “to see Charlotte get excited to have something like you said to look forward to and rally around. I think going into the year they had high hopes.
“I know injuries have been kind of tough and they have some guys and some talent, thinking in a perspective of how they want to build it. Obviously, new ownership. So, I’m hoping that they can turn it around for sure. The city deserves it for sure.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
