Homecoming in N.C. ‘hard to beat’ for Currys
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sonya Curry hasn’t stopped smiling all weekend.
She has had quality time with her grandchildren with the entire family in town for All-Star Weekend festivities. She even hit a half-court shot at a community center her family helped refurbish.
On Saturday night, she emerged from Suite 21 at the Spectrum Center beaming after spending the evening with family and watching sons Stephen and Seth and husband Dell participate in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest.
“It’s been everything that I hoped it would be,” she said of her sons’ return to their hometown for All-Star weekend. “Seeing Dell out there on the court being able to share that moment with the boys was awesome. And having the family all here to watch — that’s hard to beat.”
With remnants of half-eaten appetizers and drinks still sitting on the counter, some of the young ones were starting to fuss having grown restless after being up well past their bedtimes.
Still, Sonya didn’t want the night to end. Neither did her husband.
Dell had changed into a suit and tie after shooting a few balls alongside former NBA players Glen Rice, Mark Price and Ray Allen to raise money for charity before the main 3-point event began.
It didn’t come close to the most fun he had on Saturday — or this weekend.
“Look around, all of our family was in here,” he said pointing to a crowded suite as Stephen’s wife Ayesha put their19-month old son Canon into a stroller. “They had a great time, you could tell. That’s what it is all about — to give our family a chance to experience this and be a part of it.”
The have been plenty of highlights and memories made during the Curry homecoming.
Seth fulfilled a lifelong dream of participating in his first All-Star 3-point contest and his girlfriend Callie Rivers, son of NBA coach Doc Rivers, has been wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand — though Seth has declined to publicly comment on their reported engagement.
Stephen got to cross off a bucket list item whenheleaped into the student section at his alma mater Davidson College on Friday night after the Wildcats rallied to beat St. Joseph’s. He posed for pictures with Davidson students who were wearing only Speedos and smiles, saying “I didn’t get to do that when I was playing there, so I wanted to get that experience.”
Dell was honored at the NBA Legends brunch Sunday after spending 16 seasons in the league and retiring as the Hornets North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, second from left, Charlotte, N.C., mayor Vi Lyles, far right, and members of the Curry family pose for a photo Friday at the Carole Hoefener Community Center in Charlotte, where the Currys refurbished the center, including the indoor basketball court. Former NBA player Dell Curry, fourth from left, moved his family to Charlotte in 1988 and never left.
all-time leading scorer, a mark that has since been broken by All-Star Kemba Walker.
And Sonya, well she made the biggest shot of the weekend, draining an underhand toss from half-court on Friday — and then launched into a wild celebration — after beating her three children’s teams at a Charlotte community center that the Curry family helped to refurbish.
“A perfect ending to that event,” Stephen later said.
And while Stephen may not have gotten the “fairytale ending” he wanted after finishing second to Joe Harris in the 3-point contest, he did beat younger brother Seth to win a friendly wager .
Sonya said she wanted Seth to win in his first ever appearance as an NBA player in Charlotte, but joked the family tried to “keep it on the DL.”
It really didn’t matter in the end.
This weekend was about making family memories.
“It’s rare that we all get in the same place at the sametime,” said Seth, “but to have mydad recognized by the NBA in a city where he played for the Hornets and where us kids grew up in is pretty special. It’s been one of the best All-Star weekends I have been a part of.”
For Dell and Sonya, the All-Star Weekend has taken them full circle.
It was 27 years ago when Dell competed in the All-Star 3-point contest in Orlando, Fla., — with 3-year-old Stephen at courtside with him.
On Saturday night, Stephen simulated that moment by wearing the same multi-colored warmup jacket that he wore in1992 sitting on his dad’s lap.
All-Star Game
TEAM LEBRON 178, TEAM GIANNIS 164: Kevin Durant had 31 points and seven rebounds, LeBron James added19 points and Team LeBron overcame a big game from Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat Team Giannis, 178-164, on Sunday night in the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte.
Team LeBron trailed by 18 points in the first half, but battled back in the third quarter to take the lead behind the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard. Thompson had 20 points and Lilllard 18.
James Harden sealed the win with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left putting Team LeBron up by 16.
Antetokounmpo finished with 38 points and11rebounds to lead his team, while Bucks teammate Khris Middleton added 20 on six 3-pointers. Stephen Curry had17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his return to Charlotte but was 4 of 17 from the 3-point range.