Worst Decision Ever?
Stephen Curry says he’s “definitely” returning to Davidson for his junior year:
After Kansas ended Davidson’s dream run in the NCAA tournament on Sunday, Curry said that he will return to school for his junior season.
“I’m definitely coming back,” he said. “I don’t think I’m ready.”
Speculation began after the son of former NBA player Del Curry went off for 40 points in a first-round win over Gonzaga. Thirty more points in a victory over Georgetown turned whispers into questions. The uproar began, though, when Curry dropped 33 points on Wisconsin to carry the Wildcats into the Elite Eight — with Cleveland Cavaliers star James in attendance.
Curry, who averaged 25.9 points for 29-7 Davidson this season, wanted to quiet the rumors. He also gave his coach a big present and incentive to stay at the mid-major.
Purely in terms of Curry’s NBA career, don’t you think this is a poor decision? He put together one of the greatest individual three-game runs in NCAA history and buzz around him will most likely never be higher. If he wants to go back to school to bulk up (he was definitely hampered a bit by bigger, physical players), I would say that the best place to do that would be in the NBA. You always see a huge physical difference in players once they get locked in with NBA strength and conditioning coaches full-time.
The only other “basketball” reason I can think of for Curry to stay another year would be to gain experience running the point. Davidson’s All-Conference First Team player Jason Richards is a senior this season, meaning Curry should see a lot more time at the 1 next season. The thinking being that if he shows he can play point guard, his draft stock will go higher.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Big Mike says:
good for him to stay in school… what’s the point of getting to the league and being benched jj style, he doesn’t need the money, so why not stay in school until he’s ready to contribute at the nba level…
March 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Jeffrey says:
go for him. if he thinks he’s not ready, then stay another year.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
ERIC says:
Not as extreme of a case but look at John Wallace and Terrence Morris. Both would have been lottery picks had they left after their soph or junior season. However, both finished school, were not good draft picks (Wallace #18 to the Knicks, Morris in the second round). While their faults may have been figured out eventually, the lottery $$$ is a huge opportunity cost.
Curry knows his place in college bball and his game is better suited for it. He loves to play and wants to stay within his element.
However, it depends if he’s willing to forgo the potential guaranteed $1-3 million.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
doc says:
His pop got money so he good.Plus he know he to light in the ass to do that shit against the top flight comp he gonna be facing in the L.Stay in school work on your game besides that stroke.Who says he a top pick anyway.I dont see his name on no draftwatch.None of them George Mason dudes got a run.Scouts dont care about hype they want somebody they think wont get them fired. For now he can just pop all the chicks who go to Davidson.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:20 pm
ibleedgreen says:
Like goes on after 35-38. More of these kids should stay in school and make something of themselves besides ball.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Jah says:
Two words:
Darius Rice.
Leave while the hype is hot.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
D-Lite says:
Kid is apparently not a hardship case, and has responsible advisors around him. He needs to hit the buffet and weight room just a taste. His pops was slight too and he handled his business. How many bench warmers would trade their rookie contract for more skills and PT? Skills aren’t learned when you ride the pine I hear? Good decision, time will tell?
March 31st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
andre says:
good for stephen to stay in college. too often, guys leave college too early just cuz they think they can make it in the L. look at jj; he owns one of the sweetest jumpers and yet he barely plays. stephen needs to stay in college to polish his skills and become a all-star player instead of just another jj.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Brown says:
“Scouts dont care about hype they want somebody they think wont get them fired.”
Then how do you explain Darko Milicic? Or Ndudi Ebi?
I could go on, but you get my drift. Scouts and GMs are ALL about hype. It just shows that there’s a lot of really shitty scouts and GMs in the league.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:29 pm
K Dizzle says:
Patrick Cassidy needs to relax. The kid isn’t in need of cash and he’s the man on campus. Nuthin wrong with stayin in school and becoming a more complete and stronger all around player. There’s no guarantee he gets drafted now anyways. He’s still an undersized 2-guard who hasn’t really shown many point guard skills. Unless he gets drafted by the Warriors or the Suns, he’s gonna be in a bad situation defensively. There’s no proof that being drafted highly by a bottom feedin team leads to a better career than coming in a better player with no hype and “fallin” to the suns, spurs, celtics, lakers etc.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:55 pm
HeadKicker B says:
Long time reader, first time poster HOO-AH! This is an absolute no-brainer. If Stephen’s dream is too play in the NBA – GO NOW! His stock is at an all time high, and even if he were to go back to school and tear it up all season he wouldnt go much (if any) higher in the draft than he is now. If he goes back to school opposing teams would have had time to better prepare for him and come up with better ways to stop him. Davidson would not be “under the radar” anymore. Whether or not his family has money is irrelevent. I doubt he want to be collecting allowance from his dad in a year or two if next year he has a less than spectacular year at school and falls out of the lottery. Take the guaranteed money now. As far as bulking up do it in the NBA. His body has not physically matured yet but AI, Kevin Martin, Monte Ellis, and even BJ Armstrong arent the most physically imposing players but have had great success in the NBA.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Dave says:
Its a bad decision to stay in school. Not that they’re similar players, but do you think that Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert is regretting his decision to come back to school. The assumption is always made that by coming back to college, a player will “build on” previous success — in other words, have a better year. The reality is, it doesn’t happen very often. Players like John Wallace have already been mentioned. Unless you’re a sure-fire top 5 pick, then if you’re hot, then make the jump.
Curry has a place in the pros, no doubt. He’ll fill out and be a pure shooter who would be deadly on a squad like San Antonio (as much as I hate them). Players with a skillset like his don’t come along all that often, and he could definitely take advantage of his notoriety.
March 31st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
mambo mamba says:
Jeez, give him a break…life aint just all about ballin’ and earning dough. The money will come one way or another, but robbing a kid of his whole college experience plus degree? damn.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:59 am
word says:
it’s good either way, he might just get even better next season, even though he risks injury still.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:48 am
boogey banger says:
for most it’s a bad decision. If your dad is an ex-NBA sharpshooter it’s not a bad call. Let’s be honest if your pops is worth millions you run around pickin honeycombs cuz bills are still gettin paid
April 1st, 2008 at 8:29 am
K$ says:
f that go to the league… his dad got some money but this was before all those crazy contracts… who says he’s gonna see any of that money until 20-30 years after he’s done… after lebron watched that game theres no way he slips by the cavs… just let lebron drive and dish… lights out
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Dave- Hibbert still is a top five lottery pick this year
To everyone- It’s always a good decision to stay in college no matter what your situation is sometimes it might be a better decision to go to the NBA but it is never a “bad” decision to stay in school and get a degree
April 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Luther Brock says:
A few things that need to be considered in regards to Curry’s decision that make it a very wise one from a mature young man. First, because his family is in no financial hardship, Stephen Curry does not need to get rich – he already is (I am sure that his parents invested wisely). Second, because his dad is an NBA assistant coach, Stephen has inside access to some of the world’s best coaches, trainers, and players. Finally, Davidson will be a school of interest for talented big men this coming season, as the spotlight will be on Davidson, as opposed to sitting on the bench at another school.
These will come in handy, as now he can focus on changing his body from the lanky shooting guard body to a stronger point guard body (i.e. remember what Kobe bulked up due to a position change).
Next season, teams will expect to see him put up big scoring numbers, but let’s say that they overlook another skill that he has… excellent passing skills.
Curry will likely be a point guard, his original position in HS. Davidson will also recruit some talent in the post (i.e. power forward, center) that will complement his skills. After successfully seeing his skills in this position, his stock will go higher.
In preparation for going back to the point, there are some things that he will need to do. First, he needs to get lost in the weight room. Kasas was throwing him around at the end of their game. Second, he needs to become more familiar with the point position. Because Richardson was there the entire season, he did not have to focus on getting everyone involved as much in the two prior seasons.
Curry will shine in his new position, and a new star will be realized through college recruiting (again, I believe that one of the highly-recruited players will see that their center and point guard are both graduating and want to come to Davidson), providing even more weapons as well as someone to pass the torch to when he graduates.