Steve Kerr had a deep affection for Steph Curry even before he joined the Golden State warriors. So much so that Kerr attempted to draft Steph when he was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns.
In a recent Headliners episode starring Rachel Nichols, Steve Kerr disclosed that Steph Curry was on the verge of joining the Phoenix Suns.
“Your draft year was 09, as I was the general manager in Phoenix from 07 to 10,” Kerr informed Curry. “Steph caught our attention as we saw Steve Nash—the next generation. We had watched them emerge as two-time MVPs, and they were remarkably similar in many aspects. Because Steve had accomplished so much in the league, we were able to ascertain all of the worries that the majority of players in the league had regarding Steph’s size, defense, and athleticism.
Even more startling is the fact that Kerr truly believed Steph’s trade to the Suns would be finalized. It was essentially a phone conversation about shaking hands, but in the end, things didn’t work out.
“We tried to trade for him, and we thought we had a deal the night before the draft, it wasn’t completed,” Kerr stated. “Basically, we thought the phone conversation was over when he fell to seven, so our draft room blew up. Since we believed the agreement was finalized and Steph was going to be a member of the Phoenix Suns. It fell through; it never happened. We were aware of our fondness for him, which added to my attraction when I received the offer to join the Warriors.
There will always be a shocking cascade of decisions made in the NBA. Kobe Bryant could have played for the Clippers, and Steph Curry could have played for the Phoenix Suns. Numerous insignificant choices can drastically alter the course of franchises. Golden State, fortunately, made the correct decision.
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