Charlotte Hornets honor Dell Curry by retiring his No. 30 jersey
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dell Curry was holding back tears of joy Thursday night.
He was aware of what was about to happen. For the past couple of months, he had known that the Charlotte Hornets would finally retire his No. 30 jersey, ensuring it would forever be displayed in the rafters as a tribute to the team’s first selection in the 1988 expansion draft.
Even so, it took all his strength in that moment to maintain his composure. The Hornets unveiled the jersey during halftime of their game against the Orlando Magic, and it will eventually be displayed alongside the one honoring Bobby Phills’ time with the Charlotte franchise.
“I can’t express enough gratitude for this. I’m just a country boy from Grottoes, man,” Curry remarked, referring to his hometown in Virginia. “I had no idea this was even happening. I’m just playing basketball because I love it, and now to have my jersey in (these) rafters next to Bobby, I cannot articulate how thankful, blessed, and fortunate I feel to be here in this moment.”
Curry, who is currently a television broadcaster and analyst for the Hornets, was accompanied by his sons, Stephen and Seth, both of whom play for the Golden State Warriors, as well as his daughter Sydel, wife Nicki, mother Juanita, six grandchildren, and several team officials, including co-chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, president of business operations Shelly Cayette Weston, and president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson.
“Last night at a quiet, intimate family dinner is when it really struck me,” Dell Curry stated Thursday prior to the ceremony. “I got a bit emotional reflecting on it. … This is significant. I recognize how significant this is.”
He received video tributes from Don Londes, his former high school coach in Fort Defiance, Virginia; former Hornets teammates Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, Glen Rice, Kenny Gattison, Rex Chapman, and Tim Kempton; his three children; and longtime broadcast partner Steve Martin.
“A special night for the Curry family,” Stephen Curry shared on social media following the ceremony. “The originator is in the rafters forever. Congratulations, Dad.”
Dell Curry, 61, dedicated 10 years of his 16-year career to the Hornets and was the franchise’s last original player when he departed via free agency after the 1997-98 season. He was named the NBA’s sixth man of the year in 1994, and Charlotte has been his home for nearly 40 years.
Curry participated in Hornets community events and briefly took on the role of assistant coach in the summer of 2007 before becoming a full-time TV color commentator in 2009 alongside original Hornets play-by-play broadcaster Martin. He is currently in his 11th season as a color commentator for the franchise’s second TV voice, Eric Collins, who hosted Thursday night’s ceremony.
When Curry left the Hornets in 1998, he held the franchise record for games played (701), scoring (9,839 points), and made 3-pointers (929). He remains the all-time leader in games played for the Hornets and is second to Kemba Walker in both scoring and made 3-pointers.
“I want to express my gratitude to all of you fans,” Curry addressed the crowd. “You embraced me when I was a 24-year-old kid. And you’ve supported me and my family ever since.”
The Hornets organized a private pregame reception attended by family, friends, and other officials, including North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein — who presented Curry with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors. A donation was also made to the Boys & Girls Club of America in Curry’s honor.
“Dell Curry is synonymous with the Charlotte Hornets; he truly embodies what it means to have Hornets DNA,” Schnall and Plotkin stated in a release. “Dell’s influence extends well beyond basketball. His excellence on the court, his ongoing leadership, and his strong connection to this community make him a foundational figure in our franchise’s history.
“Retiring his jersey is a tribute to everything he has represented — and continues to represent — to this city, this team, and to the Carolinas.”
