Curry, the 1994 Sixth Man of the Year for Charlotte, is second in Hornets history in career points (9,839). Curry spent 10 of his 16 NBA seasons in Charlotte (1988–98) and currently serves as a Hornets team ambassador as well as a television analyst.
“I never thought this would happen,” Curry said. “It means a lot to me. I do it because it’s what I love to do. The game gave me a lot, the fans gave me a lot and I want to stay involved to give back what I can and make this organization what it should be and let the fans and the team and the broadcast and the show know that this is fun, we’re having a great time and let’s celebrate, let’s support. … Man, what does it mean to put it into words It would be unfair to try to tell.”
He is the father of Golden State Warriors guards Stephen and Seth Curry. Now in his 17th season as the team’s TV analyst, Dell Curry has spent a total of 27 years with the Hornets.
Hornets owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin decided to retire Curry’s number 30 to continue the organization’s connection to its history and past legends. Since purchasing the Hornets from Michael Jordan in 2023, Schnall and Plotkin have appointed new leadership in the form of president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, head coach Charles Lee and president of business operations Shelley Kayte-Weston.
“Dell Curry has been a cornerstone of the Charlotte Hornets for more than 25 years – both on and off the court,” Schnall and Plotkin said in a statement announcing the ceremony. “He exemplifies what it means to be a Hornet through his professionalism, work ethic and commitment to excellence. Dale’s impact on our organization, our fans and our community is undeniable, and he truly deserves this honor.”
Schnall and Plotkin have also led the development of a new state-of-the-art practice facility, the Novant Health Performance Center, which is expected to open in the spring of 2027.
Curry joins Bobby Phils (No. 13) as the only two players to have their jersey retired for the Hornets.
“I still love the game. I love the fans. I love their interactions, not only on the court, but when I go out into the community, I’m one of them. And they treat me the same way, my whole family,” Curry said. “They still look at my boys as Charlotte kids. They watched them grow up, playing basketball at Davidson and Duke. My daughter played volleyball at Elon. My daughter just moved back to Charlotte. It’s home. And I never want to leave it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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