Steph Curry reflected on being booed by Knicks fans during the 2009 NBA Draft and admitted he originally hoped to land in New York before the Warriors changed NBA history.
Seventeen years later, Stephen Curry still remembers exactly how it felt hearing the reaction from New York Knicks fans on the night of the 2009 NBA Draft.
The moment remains one of the NBA’s great “what if” stories.
Selected with the No. 7 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors, Curry instantly heard boos erupt from the crowd at Madison Square Garden. At the time, many Knicks fans desperately wanted the franchise to draft the young sharpshooter from Davidson. Instead, Golden State selected him one pick before New York had the opportunity.
The Knicks ultimately chose Jordan Hill at No. 8 — a decision that quickly became one of the most painful draft misses in franchise history.
Now, years later and with four NBA championships, two MVP awards, and a legacy as arguably the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen, Curry looked back on that unforgettable night during an appearance on the “Fudd Around And Find Out” podcast hosted by Azzi Fudd.
Curry Still Remembers the Knicks Fans’ Reaction in 2009
For Curry, the boos were impossible to ignore.
What should have been a pure celebration quickly became a confusing emotional moment as he realized the New York crowd was not upset with him personally — they were upset because the Knicks failed to draft him.
Curry admitted that during those seconds after hearing his name called by Golden State, he initially struggled to process the atmosphere inside the arena. Once he understood the reaction, however, the significance became clear.
At the time, many around the league believed Curry was destined for New York. The Knicks were searching for a franchise-changing player, and his electrifying college performances had already captured national attention.
Ironically, Curry himself acknowledged that he had also envisioned landing in Manhattan. But fate intervened one pick earlier.
The future Hall of Famer recalled receiving the draft-night phone call from then-Warriors general manager Larry Riley and legendary coach Don Nelson, admitting he barely even knew where Golden State stood organizationally at that moment because his focus had been almost entirely on the Knicks.
How One Draft Decision Changed the Future of Two Franchises
Few draft decisions in NBA history have created such dramatically different outcomes for two franchises.
Golden State’s selection of Curry completely transformed the organization. Over the following decade, the Warriors evolved into a dynasty, winning multiple championships and revolutionizing modern basketball with perimeter shooting and offensive spacing.
Curry became the face of that era, redefining what was possible offensively and changing how the sport is played at every level.
Meanwhile, the Knicks spent years searching unsuccessfully for the type of superstar they had unknowingly missed in 2009. Jordan Hill lasted only 25 games in New York before being traded to the Houston Rockets during his rookie season, while Curry’s legend continued to grow on the West Coast.
What makes the story even more fascinating today is timing.
The Knicks are finally relevant again, powered by stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as they prepare for another deep playoff run. Yet even amid their resurgence, the memory of passing on Curry remains one of the defining alternate-history moments in franchise history.
Curry himself appears at peace with how everything unfolded. While he admitted New York initially felt like the dream destination, he also acknowledged that the Warriors selection ultimately changed his life in ways he could never have predicted.
And for Knicks fans, that realization probably still stings just as much today as it did on draft night back in 2009.
