Stephen Curry is probably the greatest shooter in NBA history. But few people know that his father, Dell, is no “average” either.
After being selected by the Jazz with the 15th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, Dell Curry went through the Jazz and Cavaliers before making a long-term commitment to the Hornets. Let’s learn about Steph Curry’s very interesting father.
Who is Steph Curry’s father?
Steph Curry’s father is Dell Curry, full name Wardell Stephen Curry Sr. He was born in Virginia in 1964 and was a famous NBA basketball player. Standing 1m96 tall, Dell Curry played for many NBA teams before retiring in 2002.
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Is Dell Curry any good?
Dell has largely been a reserve, starting just 99 of his 1,083 career games. His primary role has been to add offense with his top-notch shooting.
Dell Curry’s career 3-point shooting percentage of 40.2% is worse than his two sons Steph (42.8%) and Seth (43.5%). But he is still one of the best 3-point shooters of the 90s. In the 1998-99 season, Dell Curry topped the NBA in 3-point shooting efficiency with a rate of up to 47.6%.
Remember that in the 90s, 3-point shooting was not as “respected” and appreciated as it is today. Throughout his career, Dell Curry has always been in the top 20 in the NBA for the number of 3s made.
Dell Curry was also the leader of the young Hornets at the time. He witnessed many changes in this team, from being at the bottom of the table to competing for a playoff spot. He was always loved by the fans, not only as a player but also as a commentator after his retirement.
Dell’s career peaked when he won the Sixth Man of the Year award in the 1993/94 season. That year he averaged 16.4 points per game and played in all 82 games.
Dell was a prolific scorer, finishing his career as the Hornets’ all-time leading scorer. He had 9,839 points, a mark that was later surpassed by Kemba Walker. However, with 701 games played, Dell still holds the record for most points in Hornets history.
Dell Curry NBA Stats
Dell Curry averaged 11.7 points per game in 1083 appearances.
| Season | Team | Minute | Point | 3PT% |
| 1986-87 | Jazz | 9.5 | 4.9 | 28.3 |
| 1987-88 | Cavaliers | 19.0 | 10.0 | 34.6 |
| 1988-89 | Hornets | 16.9 | 11.9 | 34.5 |
| 1989-90 | Hornets | 27.8 | 16.0 | 35.4 |
| 1990-91 | Hornets | 19.9 | 10.6 | 37.2 |
| 1991-92 | Hornets | 26.2 | 15.7 | 40.4 |
| 1992-93 | Hornets | 26.2 | 15.3 | 40.1 |
| 1993-94 | Hornets | 26.5 | 16.3 | 40.2 |
| 1994-95 | Hornets | 24.9 | 13.6 | 42.7 |
| 1995-96 | Hornets | 28.9 | 14.5 | 40.4 |
| 1996-97 | Hornets | 30.6 | 14.8 | 42.6 |
| 1997-98 | Hornets | 18.7 | 9.4 | 42.1 |
| 1998-99 | Bucks | 20.6 | 10.1 | 47.6 |
| 1999-00 | Raptors | 16.3 | 7.6 | 39.3 |
| 2000-01 | Raptors | 13.5 | 6.0 | 42.8 |
| 2001-02 | Raptors | 15.8 | 6.4 | 34.4 |
Dell Curry’s Career Earnings
Dell Curry earned $19.8 million in his 16 years in the NBA, according to Basketball Reference.
| Season | Team | Salary |
| 1986-87 | Jazz | N/A |
| 1987-88 | Cavaliers | $250,000 |
| 1988-89 | Hornets | $285,000 |
| 1989-90 | Hornets | N/A |
| 1990-91 | Hornets | $900,000 |
| 1991-92 | Hornets | $1,006,000 |
| 1992-93 | Hornets | $750,000 |
| 1993-94 | Hornets | $1,040,000 |
| 1994-95 | Hornets | $1,340,000 |
| 1995-96 | Hornets | $1,570,000 |
| 1996-97 | Hornets | $1,830,000 |
| 1997-98 | Hornets | $3,660,000 |
| 1998-99 | Bucks | $1,000,000 |
| 1999-00 | Raptors | $2,100,000 |
| 2000-01 | Raptors | $2,000,000 |
| 2001-02 | Raptors | $2,100,000 |
