The Charlotte Bobcats have named Dell Curry as the team's Director of Player Programs, it was announced by Bobcats President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Tapscott.
“Dell Curry is the consummate professional, both on and off the court. As a high profile athlete, Dell always carried himself in a first-class manner, set a great example as a team leader, treated the fans and the community with respect and set himself up well for life after his playing days were over," said Tapscott. “His experience and the great respect that players around the NBA have for him make Dell uniquely qualified to help our players become great teammates and positive contributors in our community.”
In his new role with the organization, Curry will cultivate one-on-one relationships with Bobcats players, provide guidance to help them develop life skills, both professionally and socially, and assist in planning for life after basketball. He began his tenure with the Bobcats in October of 2003 as Director of Basketball Relations, serving in a multi-faceted role that included working in the organization’s basketball operations, public relations, community relations and sales and marketing areas.
“Sports have always been a very big part of my life, but I have always kept my life as an athlete in perspective as it relates to my life as a whole," said Curry. "Success on the court is important, but so is maintaining a healthy family and personal life. Professional athletes face a unique set of pressures and my hope in taking on this responsibility is that I can provide an outlet for helping our players succeed both in basketball and in life."
The NBA’s Player Development Program was designed to aide players with life skills training and development, player counseling and assistance, and education and career transition. The program’s overall mission is to help NBA players realize their potential both on and off the court through comprehensive educational programming and critical support services and mentoring.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Dell Curry’s experience and professionalism in this role,” said Bobcats General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff. “He knows the proper way to conduct himself on and off the court and he can import his experiences and wisdom onto our players. I am glad he will be part of our building process.”
Curry is well-known for his efforts in the Charlotte community. In 1998 he established the Dell Curry Foundation to offer skill-based programs and group living arrangements to youth and young adults in need of guidance and direction in planning and living quality lives. His foundation has opened five reading and learning centers in Charlotte to provide mentoring, educational and computer enrichment and literacy, drug abuse counseling, family wellness training, self-improvement skills, decision-making and team concept awareness.
The first-ever pick by Charlotte in the 1988 Expansion Draft, Curry went on to play 10 seasons in Charlotte. He won the 1993-94 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award after he averaged a personal-best 16.3 points and he averaged 16.0 points in 1989-90. Also during his tenure in Charlotte, Curry averaged 14.0 points and shot .462 percent from the field, .405 percent from three-point range and .852 percent at the foul line; all higher than his career averages. Curry also had stints in Utah, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Toronto.
A former standout at Virginia Tech, Curry is 14th on the NBA’s all-time list for three-point field goal percentage (.402) and 11th with 1,245 made three-pointers. In 1,083 career games he averaged 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting .457 from the field and .843 at the foul line.
An accomplished all-around athlete, Curry was a 14th round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft but opted to pursue an NBA career. He posted a 6-1 pitching record and a 3.81 ERA as a junior at Virginia Tech following the basketball season when he averaged 18.2 points and .482 shooting from the field. Curry was inducted to the Hokies Sports Hall of Fame on October 25, 1996. He and his wife, Sonya, have two sons, Stephen and Seth, and one daughter, Sydell.