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Baseball fields forged bond between McKillop and Dell Curry
19 Mar
Summary
- McKillop and Dell Curry built trust on youth baseball fields.
- They intentionally avoided basketball discussions during talks.
- McKillop valued Curry's character for Davidson recruitment.
Davidson Head Coach Bob McKillop's relationship with Dell Curry began years before recruiting Stephen Curry, originating on youth baseball fields. The two fathers built mutual respect through hours of conversation, deliberately avoiding basketball topics. This foundational trust proved essential when McKillop later coached Stephen for three years.
McKillop recalled that the peaceful environment of the baseball fields allowed their relationship to grow. He noted that this respect between them as parents and professionals was paramount. When recruiting Stephen, McKillop's belief in the young athlete stemmed from observing his character, which he attributed to Dell and Sonya Curry's parenting.
Stephen's elite shooting ability and mental fortitude were seen as inseparable, significantly influencing Davidson's recruitment decision. Even as a former NBA player, Stephen demonstrated respect by not interfering with coaching strategies during his time at Davidson. The partnership between the Curry family and Davidson was built on a strong foundation of trust between McKillop, Dell, Sonya, and Stephen.
