The New York Knicks have fallen on hard times of late, and have gotten off the worst start in franchise history (5-20). That might not be the case if the Knicks and All-Star point guard Stephen Curry - who has led the Golden State Warriors to a league-best 20-2 mark this year - had gotten their way.
According to a report from the New York Times, Curry and the Knicks desperately wanted to end up in the Big Apple.
"For [Former President of Basketball Operations Donnie] Walsh, the most painful part of the episode is that leading into the draft, Curry wanted no part of the Warriors and, assuming he was not going to be drafted higher, pointed to the Knicks as his preferred landing site. Curry refused to so much as visit or work out for the Warriors.
In a telephone interview, Curry’s father, Dell, who played 16 N.B.A. seasons as a sweet-shooting guard, said: “The Warriors had some questionable characters on their team, the Knicks really needed a point guard, and we felt that Stephen would fit perfectly with a coach like Mike D’Antoni, playing that fast, up-and-down style. He loved the idea of playing at Madison Square Garden.”
The Warriors took Curry with the No. 7 overall pick, while the Knicks were sitting at No. 8. They drafted power forward Jordan Hill (now with the Los Angeles Lakers) over DeMar DeRozan and Brandon Jennings.
This what-if scenario would have had a MASSIVE effect on the current landscape of the NBA.
For one, the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets to the Knicks probably wouldn't have happened, or would Curry have been involved in that trade?
It's certainly interesting to think about, but one thing's for sure - the Knicks just barely missed out on having one of the most exciting players in the league today.
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