Stephen Curry Speculates Love Of Golf Led To Timberwolves Not Drafting Him

Was golf the reason the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't draft Stephen Curry? The Golden State Warriors star seems to think so.

During the 2009 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves had the No. 5 and 6 picks but would go on to draft Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn instead. Curry meanwhile, was chosen by the Warriors as the No. 7 pick and it has clearly paid dividends since.

The 30-year-old has won three championships and two MVP awards with the Bay Area side and their dynasty looks set to continue in the 2018/19 season as they are the favorites for a fourth championship in five years.

When recently asked on the "The Bill Simmons Podcast" whether he harbored any resentment toward the Timberwolves, Curry revealed what may have caused him not to be drafted by then-president of basketball operations David Kahn.

"My guy David Kahn. I don't know where he's at right now," Curry said, as quoted on Yahoo. "I don't know if that ever came out. There's a story… Everyone knows how much I love golf and play it in my spare time or whatnot."

"I think the word on the street was that he didn't draft me because Minnesota is cold and I wouldn't be able to play as much golf so I'd be miserable... I hope it's true because that's hilarious," he said.

Curry's love of golf is no secret. He participated at the Web.com Tour's Ellie Mae Classic earlier this month, however, he did not make the cut as he finished last among the 154 finishers.

"I couldn’t hit a driver to save my life today, so that’s how golf goes," Curry said afterward. "One day you have it, or at least in the amateur world, one day you have it and one day you completely lose it and you have no idea what you’re doing over the top of the ball."

Kahn on the other hand, revealed last year that weather was an issue in general, but it was Curry's father Dell that did not want his son to be drafted by Minnesota.

Kahn had just been appointed to his role as president of basketball operations and after being told of the Curry family's wishes by their agent, was in a tough position, especially with the perception that free agents wouldn't want to play in cold-weather places as he explains below:

"The back-channel message [from Curry and his agent] would have weighed heavily in my decision-making process under any circumstances, but especially in Minnesota. Immediately after my hire, I was spending nearly every weekday morning in the team’s conference room, listening to team business partners and season-ticket holders lament over coffee and pastries. 'You’ll never attract free agents here,' they said, practically in unison. 'Players don’t want to play in cold-weather places.' Doomsday all around. I figured it was probably the wrong time to tell them about the Currys."

In the end, Kahn opted for Rubio and Flynn which in the long run, did not work out.