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Stephen Curry And The Knicks’ Unfortunate Miss

By Kaveh Jam

May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry accepts the MVP trophy at the Oakland Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry accepts the MVP trophy at the Oakland Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Tuesday night, as the final seconds of Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals ran off the clock, a jubilant Stephen Curry launched the basketball towards the rafters at Quicken Loans Arena, triggering a championship celebration 40 years in the making.

Finals MVP Andre Iguodala tracked the flight of the ball, letting it cradle into his arms like an NFL kick returner signaling fair catch.

The scene is old for Cleveland Cavaliers fans whose unflappability is continually tested. Meanwhile, some 450 miles east, another wistful fan base watched and followed along idly.

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New York Knicks fans have had a front row seat to fumbled draft picks, failed trades, dysfunctional coaching and abysmal contracts — all of which, unsurprisingly, have led to botched opportunities to build a contender.

In June of 2009, the Knicks were fresh off a 32-50 season, good for second to last in the Eastern Conference. General manager Donnie Walsh was full of vibrant confidence. One year removed from using the sixth pick on Danilo Gallinari, Walsh and the Knicks faced a 2009 draft class chock-full of talented point guards, something the team desperately lacked.

Walsh keyed in on Curry, the 6’3″ Davidson point guard who was coming off a glittery junior season. The Knicks’ poorly kept secret became apparent to everyone around the league. Word had begun to leak that Curry’s camp also saw New York as his preferred destination – so much so that he tailored his pre-draft workouts accordingly.

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Curry was not expected to go within the top four picks. The Minnesota Timberwolves, with picks No. 5 and 6, had made it clear they were looking to take at least one point guard. Somewhat surprisingly, they took two – Ricky Rubio from Spain, and Jonny Flynn from Syracuse.

The rebuilding Warriors were next on the clock at No. 7. The elevated anticipation among fans at the WaMu Theater inside Madison Square Garden reached a crescendo even while the Knicks waited on deck.

Larry Riley, the Golden State Warriors’ general manager at the time, was a huge advocate of Curry. While some thought it would be unconventional to pair Curry with Monta Ellis, another 6’3″ guard in his fourth season, Riley and then-coach Don Nelson welcomed the idea.

Detractors claimed Curry was erratic, wildly inconsistent and too slender for the NBA. Riley and Walsh remained unfazed. Almost stubbornly believing in his untapped potential, they clung to every Curry shot and pass, analyzing and envisioning it fleshed out and perfected with time and development.

Despite Curry willfully declining the opportunity to workout for the Warriors, they selected him with little hesitation. The Knicks proceeded to take Arizona’s 6’10” forward Jordan Hill, crumpling the New York audience and subjecting Walsh to a bevy of criticism.

Hill appeared in 24 games before being traded to the Houston Rockets. Missing out on Curry when all signs pointed to New York as his landing destination was deflating. In retrospect, even more perplexing was the Knicks’ mysterious decision to pass on other available point guards – Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson and Jeff Teague.

Walsh later admitted to being so dead set on Curry, that he never seriously considered any other point guard. The Mike D’Antoni-led Knicks offense was highly conducive and catering to Curry’s skill set and natural flair.

“To be honest, I was so fixated on Curry. And the guys who went lower, I don’t think too many people thought they’d be this good,” Walsh acknowledged.

Curry has moved on, catapulting himself into the NBA’s elite guards, and the unquestioned leader in ushering in the NBA’s small-ball phenomenon. But even he admitted he sometimes thought of what could’ve been had he landed in New York. As a visiting player, he’s carved his name in Garden lore. This season he was the overall leading vote getter for the All-Star game.

The Knicks recovered by continuing their own rebuilding, trading for Carmelo Anthony in 2011. But in February 2013, the ghost of Curry-past swarmed the Garden when the Warriors arrived for a regular season matchup. By the time the Knicks left with a four-point win, Curry had registered 54 points, third most by a visiting player, with a dizzying display of long range shooting. In case some Knicks fans had forgotten, Curry did his best to remind them.

Had New York landed Curry, history would surely have a different story to tell. But it’s an impossible game to play. Aside from impracticality, the Knicks’ fickle front office makes the situation difficult to gauge.

Curry weathered arduous early seasons in Golden State, which included repeated ankle injuries, but was allowed the time to persevere and develop. When he accepted the MVP trophy, he thanked Riley for believing in him and allowing his potential to blossom.

The Knicks can take solace in knowing sometimes these things don’t work in your favor. But it’s knowing when and how to adjust your sails to still reach your destination. An implausible outcome begins with a singular action, coupled with a cohesive vision, and unwavering persistence.

The coronation of Curry as a champion reached its zenith Tuesday night. As the ball held suspended for those few seconds, the Warriors began celebrating the NBA title – something that seemed so unlikely just a few seasons ago.

Next: 5 Potential Trade Destinations For David Lee

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