NBA Finals: Stephen Curry is Sending a Finals Jersey to Drazen Petrovic’s Mom
In 1992, Stephen Curry’s father, Dell Curry competed in the three-point competition during that year’s all-star weekend in Orlando, Florida. Dell had trouble in the contest and was unable to make it past the opening round, scoring a measly 11 points, but when he was competing, the mother of the late basketball player, Drazen Petrovi, took care of young Stephen Curry.
Drazen Petrovic tragically passed away just one year after his mother babysat the future MVP in a tragic car accident in Germany after playing a game in a qualification tournament for the 1993 EuroBasket.
In the final two years before his death, Petrovic averaged 20.6 and 22.3. His current team, the then New Jersey Nets, retired his jersey after his death. Petrovic wore the number 3. Petrovic was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame following his death after having only played four seasons in the NBA.
Before coming to the association, Petrovic was a famed player overseas where he played for ten seasons with three different franchises before finishing his European career with Real Madrid. He was a two-time Euroleague Champion, two-time Mr. Europa Award recipient, and a FIBA World Championship MVP in 1986. It is an understatement to say that Drazen Petrovic had an illustrious career.
Stephen Curry did not play his best during this year’s NBA Finals, but he was still an integral part of his team’s success. Curry led his team to victory with 25 points in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which clinched the Warriors first championship in 40 years.
Warriors star guard Stephen Curry does not forget. He did not forget about those who said he was only a shooter or those who said he was not as good as other NBA guards. Curry also never forgot about the mother of the former all star Drazen Petrovic.
Stephen Curry plans to send a jersey from the NBA Finals to Drazen Petrovic’s mom for looking after him so his father could play in the 1992 three-point competition.
The jersey will be on display at the Drazen Petrovic Memorial Center located in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, where Petrovic was born when it was still named Yugoslavia.
This is a special, thoughtful gesture by Curry, who obviously remembered the kindness Petrovic’s mother showed him that night, even after 23 eventful years.
Stephen Curry is known for his generosity and kindness, and this is just one more occasion where he had exemplified that stellar behavior.
[Image Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
