The Golden State Warriors struck gold 16 years ago by drafting Stephen Curry.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has left an unforgettable impact on the NBA since entering the league in 2009.
He played a crucial role in the rise of the three-point shot in the modern era. While Curry is now one of the faces of the NBA, the same wasn’t the case when he submitted his name for the 2009 NBA Draft.
In fact, the Davidson alumnus fell to the seventh overall pick in the draft. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the six players picked before the Baby-Faced Assassin.
Today, many players spend just a single season in the NCAA before declaring for the NBA draft. However, for a small guard like Curry, it was essential to hone his skills in college before becoming NBA-ready.
It’s no surprise that Steph spent three years in college before he considered himself ready for the league.
Being the No. 7 overall pick in his class, Curry became a mid-lottery pick for the Warriors. But it’s safe to say that Steph has surpassed all draft-day expectations that NBA teams had from him.
After all, Curry is a four-time NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA MVP, 11-time All-Star and All-NBA, and has a plethora of more records to his name. But what about the six players picked ahead of him? Let’s take a look at the list.
| Draft Pick Number | Player Name | Team |
| 1 | Blake Griffin | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2 | Hasheem Thabeet | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 3 | James Harden | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 4 | Tyreke Evans | Sacramento Kings |
| 5 | Ricky Rubio | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 6 | Jonny Flynn | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 7 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
Despite the likes of James Harden and Blake Griffin being better prospects than Curry at the time of the draft, there’s no doubt that the Warriors star is the most decorated and beloved player from the class.
Even after spending 16 years in the NBA, Curry remains one of the top stars in the league. He recently helped the Warriors reach the second round in the Western Conference, only to witness the team’s elimination from the sidelines after suffering a hamstring strain.
But what about the players who were picked ahead of him? Here’s a quick breakdown of the same:
| Player Name | Where they are now |
| Blake Griffin | Out of league |
| Hasheem Thabeet | Out of league |
| James Harden | Starting point guard at LA Clippers |
| Tyreke Evans | Out of league |
| Ricky Rubio | Out of league |
| Jonny Flynn | Out of league |
From the six players selected ahead of Curry, only one remains in the NBA in 2025. This is proof of Curry’s talent and longevity.
As of now, Curry is yet to drop any major hints about his retirement. And why should he? After all, he is coming off the heels of averaging 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game for the Warriors in the 2024-25 season.
