{"id":674245,"date":"2026-03-23T09:44:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/674245\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:44:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:44:45","slug":"charlotte-hornets-officially-retire-dell-currys-no-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/674245\/","title":{"rendered":"Charlotte Hornets officially retire Dell Curry\u2019s No. 30"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long before pulling into the arena in a white luxury SUV, which arrived some three hours before the actual event, the magnitude of it all registered.<\/p>\n

After taking part in a favorite pastime and firing a 73 on a sunshine-splashed day, and away from the camaraderie of former teammates, Dell Curry<\/a>\u2019s mind wandered as he reflected on the ultimate career achievement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m driving back to my house by myself and I got a little emotional thinking, \u2018Wow, this is really happening,\u2019\u201d Curry sad. \u201cMy jersey is going into the rafters.\u2019 Calmed down a little bit, took a shower, got dressed and here I am.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a really good week and this is a big deal. I understand how big of a deal it is. \u2026 I\u2019ve been trying to slow down as much as possible so I can soak it all in. It\u2019s going to be over fast, but I know how big of a deal this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

With sons Steph and Seth in attendance thanks to the Golden State Warriors having a scheduled night off, along with daughter Sydel, Curry\u2019s wife and a host of grandchildren, Curry\u2019s No. 30 jersey was officially raised<\/a> to the upper reaches of Spectrum Center during halftime of the Charlotte Hornets\u2019 big matchup with the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n

The jersey of the 61-year-old joined Bobby Phills, whose No. 13 was retired on Feb. 9, 2000, about a month after his death in a car accident.<\/p>\n

\"Former Former Charlotte Hornets forward Dell Curry speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony Thursday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com <\/p>\n

Given the night off from his usual TV color analyst duties alongside play-by-play man Eric Collins, Curry spent the first half watching the game sitting in the courtside seats of Hornets co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, flanked by Steph and Seth and Curry\u2019s wife, Nicki Smith. That gave him plenty of time to gather himself and ensure he had his thoughts together while enjoying the Hornets\u2019 thrashing of their Southeast Division foe.<\/p>\n

Throughout his five-minute, 58-second speech, Curry thanked many of those who helped him along the way on a winding path that took him from a small town in Virginia to the NBA. They included his mother and his high school coach Don Landes. As well as the fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a country boy from Grottos,\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n

Ownership lauded Curry during the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cDell is a man of great character,\u201d Schnall said, \u201cand a true representation of Hornets DNA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curry nearly kept it together emotionally, eventually mirroring what happened during his pregame interview. Prior to taking the court and giving his speech, Curry fought off tears while discussing how much having his family around to celebrate with him meant.<\/p>\n

\"NBA NBA players Seth and Steph Curry smile as they listen to their father and former Charlotte Hornets forward Dell Curry speak during his jersey retirement ceremony Thursday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com <\/p>\n

\u201cSteph actually stopped by the house, changed his clothes on the way here,\u201d Curry said. \u201cGot to talk to Seth and my daughter as well, and my sister, my mom. They were all there (Wednesday) night. So many people played a part in this, especially those people that are closest to me. You can\u2019t put into words of everything that goes on in a family.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy family, we live in the public eye. Sometimes that\u2019s good, sometimes it\u2019s not. But they\u2019ve handled everything, with class, dignity. And you can\u2019t teach that. It\u2019s something that they have to go through and learn through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curry, who claimed the NBA\u2019s Sixth Man of the Year award in 1993-94 thanks to averaging a career-best 16.3 points, retired as the franchise\u2019s all-time leader in games played (701), points (9,839), field goals made (3,951) and 3-pointers (929). He also ranks in the top 10 in several key categories, solidifying his place in the Hornets\u2019 history.<\/p>\n

\"Former Former Charlotte Hornets forward Dell Curry’s jersey number banner is raised into the rafters Thursday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com <\/p>\n

He\u2019s synonymous with Charlotte and is now immortalized.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of owners,\u201d Curry said, \u201cbut this group has really wrapped their arms around me as a legend, and Muggsy (Bogues) and everybody else, all the other players and employees that are still with this organization. I\u2019ve been in this city since \u201888, so I\u2019ve got a ton of friends and family who live here.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the workers, the staff, the people in this building, people at the old Hive, it\u2019s just a family feeling from my time back then and all the way up until now that makes me really proud to still be a part of this organization. With the new ownership, we\u2019re just getting started. You see a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, the atmosphere the last month or so has felt like the old Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Former Former Charlotte Hornets forward Dell Curry becomes emotional after speaking to the fans during his jersey retirement ceremony Thursday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com <\/p>\n

This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 9:17 PM.<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Roderick Boone<\/a><\/p>\n

The Charlotte Observer<\/p>\n

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he\u2019s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching \u201cThe Fresh Prince of Bel Air\u201d endlessly.
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