In Charlotte, Hornets fans still hold out hope for Curry in teal
CHARLOTTE, N. C. >> Steph Curry wrapped up his elaborate pregame routine, he walked over to the sideline to sign a young fan's cap. The school- aged boy hopped up and down as if his favorite cartoon character popped out of a screen and became his best friend.
Around the corner on the Spectrum Center baseline, an 11-year- old held up a sign that read, “My dad bet me $ 500 that I could get Steph Curry's autograph.” He might've been jealous of the courtside fan, but simply seeing his favorite player ever in person curtailed any ire.
When Curry returned to Golden State's locker room, Curry jerseys draped over the tunnel railings. Here, more than anywhere besides the Chase Center, is the Church of Curry.
Fans travel far and wide to see Curry play every game. In fact, a mom and daughter from Switzerland and China flew in to see Friday's Warriors-Hornets game. But Charlotte always has a different energy.
The Spectrum Center, one of the quietest arenas in the league, got the most rowdy on Friday night whenever Curry scored or checked into the game. The crowd erupted when he sank a buzzer-beating 3 to end the first half. Curry, more than any Hornet in years, is Charlotte's star.
“He's GOATED,” said Banks Williams, the 11-year- old holding the soliciting sign.
For a franchise that will have missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons, any semblance of hope that Curry, maybe, one day, could possibly don a Hornets jersey is blind faith. But there are believers nonetheless.
“That'd be a big deal,” said Hunter Williams, Banks' dad. “( My kids) play all the AAU basketball, and they try and practice, and they hope to be like (Curry) one of these days.”
It's true. Hunter's two kids, Banks and BuddyDawson, said they want to shoot like Curry, be in the NBA like Curry, have a shoe line like Curry, and be as popular as Curry. When Hunter gave his kids tickets to this late-March Warriors- Hornets game for Christmas, Banks cried tears of joy.
“I wish he would play for the Hornets, because then we'd see him a lot more,” Banks said. “If I could, I would buy every ticket.”
Mo Lawless also got his son, JP, tickets to the Warriors- Hornets game for Christmas. They drove 315 miles from West Virginia for JP's first- ever NBA game — one in which Curry dropped 23 points in a 115- 97 Warriors blowout.
Demetrius Henderson and his son, Landon, also went to their first NBA game together because Curry was in town. The 7- year- old Landon could only laugh and nod when asked what it'd be like if Curry played for the Hornets one day.
Curry grew up in Charlotte, wearing purple and teal since he was a toddler. He'd shoot on the Charlotte Coliseum court with his dad, Hornets guard Dell, before games and hang around the team. Dell and teammates like Muggsy Bogues and Rex Chapman would take care of him and drive him around, not knowing the best player in the car was strapped in a booster seat.
Now, when he comes home, he plays in front of his dad, a television analyst for the Hornets, and against his brother, Seth (who missed Friday's game with an ankle sprain).
“I enjoy the experience of knowing there's a huge Curry presence in the Hornets organization and, obviously, tonight I get to join the party,” Curry said.
The connections make it easy for fans to fantasize. Curry was naturally asked multiple questions in his postgame press conference about what it's like to play back home. He looks forward to playing in Charlotte — in front of familiar faces, with a crowd that can energize him.