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Kendra AndrewsESPN
Golden State Warriors guard after winning fourth NBA title and Finals MVP Stephen Curry I often used the phrase “What are they going to say now?” Regarding his work history. But now the same applies to his college career.
Curry was inducted into the Davidson College Hall of Fame Wednesday, retiring his jersey number and receiving his diploma in a ceremony held at the Berg Arena on the school’s campus.
“This is a really great day and a great moment for me and my family,” Currie said. and most importantly, to play for the amazing people who coached and built this program. [Bob] McKillop. “
Curry graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in May, but was unable to attend spring college graduation due to the NBA playoffs. As such, he received an individual start on Wednesday.
“You showed determination and perseverance to get this degree,” Davidson President Doug Hicks said at the ceremony. “It would have been so easy not to get a college degree.” But in response to that thought, you said, ‘night, night,’ what you’ve done to 29 other NBA organizations.”
Getting the degree was doing what Curry promised his mother, Sonya, 13 years ago when he declared the draft. But it was also a prerequisite to retiring his jersey – a rule introduced for Davidson.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sonya initially wanted her son to attend a more prestigious school, but changed her mind after seeing how happy Callie was with Davidson.
Curry’s father, Dell, touched on his son’s work ethic and said the next time he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame, “You’ll know where it will be.”
McKillop, Curry’s former coach and Davidson’s most winning coach in school history, concluded his speech by saying, “There is hope in the world because of Stephen Curry.”
Curry attended Davidson College from 2006-2009 and became the school’s all-time leader in points, 3-pointers, free throws, field goals and steals in those three years.
Curry also finished his college career as the Southern Conference’s all-time leading scorer, set an NCAA record with 162 triples in 2008, and was named the Southern Conference’s Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year in 2009. In 2016, he was named a Consensus All-American. He moved from the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2008.
“At every commencement ceremony, every president makes a hopeful statement about the future of their alumni,” Hicks said. “In that spirit, I confidently predict, Stephen Curry, that you will achieve considerable success in your post-college life and career.”
Following his commencement speech, Callie’s wife Aisha and children Riley, Ryan, and Cannon joined on stage.
By Wednesday, Davidson had retired only eight players’ jerseys and had no jersey numbers. Curry’s No. 30 jersey became the first jersey number to retire and be taken out of the rotation. This means Davidson Men’s Basketball Player will never wear the number 30 jersey again.
As the audience counted down from ten, Curry and his family pulled a basketball-shaped lever to reveal his jersey hanging in the rafters, immortalizing him in Davidson’s history forever. .
“I’m a graduate,” Curry concluded his speech. “I’m a Davidson alum and in the Hall of Fame. It’s pretty crazy.”
