Currys play hard, enjoy family time
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dell Curry likes nights when he can open a bottle of wine in front of the fireplace alongside wife Sonya and watch their NBA sons play on two flat-screen TVs in his living room. Those nights, he has to pinch himself. Everyone in the Curry clan has been pinching themselves as the NBA All-Star Weekend approaches in their hometown.
“It’s going to be incredible,” said Dell Curry, a former player and color commentator for the host Charlotte Hornets. “It’s going to be a mini family reunion.”
Stephen, two-time NBA MVP, and younger brother Seth Curry will compete in the 3-point shootout Saturday night at the Spectrum Center. The elder Curry is in his sixth consecutive All-Star game.
“This just has the feel of the Curry family All-Star weekend,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
That Seth is involved makes it extra special. Steph said the family group text was “buzzing” when everyone learned Seth would compete in the 3-point contest.
The Currys have been prepping for months and got off to a hot start.
At a family shootout, part of the dedication of the Carole Hoefener Community Center, Sonya sank a one-handed, halfcourt shot to help her three-person team beat teams led by her sons and daughter. She raced around the court and fans went wild as her sons looked on in amazement. Dell just smiled and clapped.
Seth didn’t mind losing to mom, joking, “Anybody but Steph winning was good.”
Sonya is also handling logistics. On top of the invite list are the boys’ grandmothers, who haven’t been to an All-Star weekend since Dell competed in the 3-point shootout in Orlando in 1992. Former coaches, like Davidson’s Bob McKillop, will be there, too. The NBA is allowing the Currys extra tickets to accommodate.
“I want you to write that loud and clear so you can help me keep the list small,” Steph said of his 30-invite quota.
Steph and Seth arrived Thursday together after Seth’s Trail Blazers played host to Steph’s Warriors Wednesday in Portland.
Their families came, too: Steph is married to Ayesha, and the couple has three children. Seth has a child with Callie Rivers, the daughter of NBA coach Doc Rivers. And their sister, Sydell, who recently married Steph’s teammate Damion Lee, a two-way player with Golden State, will be in town for the festivities, too.
That the weekend is a Curry family affair doesn’t mean the competition will be reduced. In fact, it implies the opposite.
“At my daughter’s wedding we played Liar’s Dice for about two hours, and that was the most competitive thing I have seen in a long time,” Dell said. “Anytime there is a game that somebody has to win or lose, you can’t give anyone the edge as to who is more competitive.”