Dell Curry fought back happy tears Thursday night as the Charlotte Hornets finally immortalized the man who has been the heartbeat of the franchise since day one. In an emotional halftime ceremony during the Hornets’ 130-11 win over the Orlando Magic, Curry’s No. 30 jersey was raised to the rafters, making him only the second player in team history to receive the honor.
It was a full-circle moment for Curry, the team’s first-ever selection in the 1988 expansion draft. Curry spent 10 of his 16 NBA seasons in Charlotte, departing in 1998 as the franchise leader in points, games played, and three-pointers made. While Kemba Walker eventually surpassed him in scoring, Curry remains the all-time leader in games played with 701 appearances in a Hornets uniform.
The evening was a family milestone as much as a professional one. Curry was joined on the court by his sons, NBA stars Stephen Curry and Seth Curry, his daughter Sydel, and his wife Nicki. The presence of his mother, Juanita, and his six grandchildren added to the intimate atmosphere of a night decades in the making.
“I had no idea that this was even happening,” Curry told the crowd, reflecting on his journey from a 24-year-old prospect to a foundational figure in North Carolina sports. “I’m just playing basketball because I love it, and now to have my jersey in these rafters… I cannot explain how grateful I am.”