NBA: Warrior godfather.

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May 23, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Swish!

Curry was practicing in the backyard of his home, making three-pointers in a row, each shot cleanly swishing through the net. He had been training for an hour and a half, and his sleeveless training vest was drenched with sweat.

Just then, the door to the backyard opened, and Dell, accompanied by a slim, middle-aged white man in a suit, entered. Dell called out,

"Stephen, take a break. Jeff is here."

Curry glanced over, greeted the middle-aged man politely,

"Hello, Mr. Austin."

He stopped dribbling the ball and walked back into the house with the two men. The middle-aged man examined Curry carefully and remarked,

"Stephen, I don't often see players as hardworking as you. You're definitely going to achieve great things in the NBA."

The man was Jeff Austin, Curry's newly signed agent. Though Austin wasn't a well-known figure in the league and only represented a few role players, his strong relationship with Dell had helped him secure Curry as a client over more famous agents.

"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do," Curry replied modestly, using a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Jeff Austin chuckled,

"Stephen, that's a great mentality to have. You focus on practice, and I'll handle the rest. I already have some insight into your draft position."

Dell and Curry exchanged surprised looks. The lottery results had just been announced two days earlier, and Austin was already here to discuss Curry's draft possibilities—he was quick to act.

Jeff Austin smiled, diving into his analysis of the draft situation:

"Even if something unexpected happens, there's no way Stephen will fall out of the top eight. So, we only need to focus on those teams with picks in the top eight."

"The Clippers have the No. 1 pick. If they chose Steph, that'd be ideal... But Blake Griffin's talent is just too obvious this year, and the Clippers will almost certainly pick him. Of course, there's always a slim chance they'd pick Steph, but it's highly unlikely."

Curry nodded, understanding the situation. He knew where he stood. Despite being the NCAA scoring champion for three years, he was seen as an older rookie and primarily a shooter, while Griffin was an undeniable inside talent. The Clippers wouldn't pass on Griffin for him.

Austin continued his analysis:

"The Grizzlies have the second pick, and they're likely to consider you, but there are other potential picks. One competitor is Hasheem Thabeet, a talented big man, but his skills are raw. Another is James Harden, who is more physically gifted than you, but he's not as much of a threat to your chances."

"So Steph's biggest chance is with the Grizzlies?" Dell asked.

"No, I don't recommend Stephen go to the Grizzlies, even though there's a good chance they'll consider him," Jeff Austin said, to the surprise of both Dell and Curry.

"Why not?" Dell asked, confused. "If the No. 1 pick isn't an option, isn't the second pick the best choice?"

"It's because of the city," Jeff Austin replied slowly. "Memphis is a small market, and they already have Mike Conley. He was the fourth pick in 2007, and his position conflicts with Stephen's. Beyond that, the team's playing style doesn't fit well with Stephen's game. The head coach is very traditional. All in all, the Grizzlies just aren't the right team for him."

Curry and Dell both nodded in agreement. Austin's breakdown made sense, highlighting several factors that made Memphis a less-than-ideal destination.

Jeff Austin continued,

"The Thunder have the third pick, but they're not a good fit for Stephen either. Oklahoma is a small market, and they picked Westbrook with the fourth pick last year, which overlaps with Stephen's position. But I don't think the Thunder are seriously considering him."

"Beyond that, let's eliminate the Kings and Timberwolves. Both are small-market teams and not a great fit for Stephen. The Warriors have a terrible record, and Monta Ellis is their core player. Although it's a bigger market, it's not conducive to Stephen's growth. So, they don't need to be considered either."

"That leaves us with the Knicks as the best fit for Stephen!"

Curry was caught off guard. "The Knicks?" he murmured.

Jeff Austin smiled,

"Yes, the Knicks! Even though the Knicks have been awful the past few years, that was because of Isaiah Thomas' mismanagement. Last year, James Dolan hired Donnie Walsh as president of basketball operations. He's a sharp guy. He called me yesterday, expressing his admiration for you. Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is also high on you."

"The Knicks have the biggest market in the league. Even in their worst seasons, they've remained the most profitable team... Stephen, a team without immediate pressure to win, in the largest market, with a coach whose system complements your style—there's no better option for you!"

Dell and Curry sat in silence, processing Austin's reasoning. After a while, Dell nodded,

"Jeff, that's a solid case. The Knicks do seem like the best option for Stephen."

"Thank you, Mr. Austin. The Knicks do sound like a good fit," Curry said, though his smile seemed forced.

Jeff Austin, having spent years in the NBA, could read emotions well. He noticed Curry's unease and asked,

"Stephen, you don't seem entirely happy. Is something wrong with the Knicks?"

"It's just… the Knicks only win a few games each season. If I go there, I might lose more games in my rookie year than I've lost in my entire college career," Curry responded with a wry smile.

Jeff Austin consoled him,

"Stephen, this is something all top draft picks face. James Dolan has deep pockets, and Donnie Walsh knows what he's doing. They'll build the team around you, and soon the Knicks will be competitive. After your rookie season, you'll be part of a strong team, and you'll become a star in the process. It's a win-win situation."

Curry sighed,

"Okay, you're right. It's just a shame I won't be able to play for Liam anymore..."

Dell patted his son's shoulder and spoke gently,

"Stephen, that's part of the journey. You can't play for the same coach your whole life. Sean, Liam , Mike D'Antoni… this is just the beginning. You'll have other coaches throughout your career. Liam's a great coach, and you won two championships together. Those might be your fondest memories, but all good things must come to an end. You have to embrace change."

End of this chapter

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