Eddy Curry facts for kids
Curry with the New York Knicks in January 2007
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| Center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 5, 1982 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Thornwood (South Holland, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 295 lb (134 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 2001–2013, 2018–2019 |
| Career history | |
| 2001–2005 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2005–2011 | New York Knicks |
| 2011–2012 | Miami Heat |
| 2012 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2012–2013 | Zhejiang Golden Bulls |
| 2018–2019 | Zhuhai Wolf Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 6,820 (12.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,725 (5.2 rpg) |
| Blocks | 384 (0.7 bpg) |
Eddy Anthony Curry Jr. (born December 5, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a tall and strong player, known for his scoring close to the basket.
Curry went straight from Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, to the NBA. The Chicago Bulls picked him fourth overall in the 2001 NBA draft. He played for the Bulls until 2005. After that, he joined the New York Knicks from 2005 to 2010. Curry later played for the Miami Heat in the 2011–12 season. He was part of the Heat team that won the NBA championship in 2012. He also played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks and in China.
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High School Basketball Star
Before becoming a top high school basketball player, Eddy Curry wanted to be a gymnast. He didn't start playing basketball until he was in seventh grade. Even then, he wasn't very excited about joining the school team.
In 2001, Curry led his team, Thornwood High School, to second place in the IHSA State Playoffs. For his amazing performance, he was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2001. In his final year of high school, he averaged 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game. He was also named to several all-tournament teams.
A documentary called "Preps: Chicago Hoops" was made about Eddy Curry and four other high school basketball stars in 2001. It showed their journey as they prepared to go to college or the NBA.
Professional Basketball Career
Chicago Bulls (2001–2005)
Eddy Curry had planned to play college basketball at DePaul University. However, he decided to enter the 2001 NBA draft instead. The Chicago Bulls chose him as the fourth overall pick.
In his second year with the Bulls, Curry improved a lot. He led the entire NBA in field goal percentage, making 58.5% of his shots. This was a big achievement for him. In the 2004–05–05 season, the Bulls got much better and made it to the playoffs. Curry was the team's top scorer that season. However, he had to miss the end of the season and the playoffs due to a heart condition. Doctors later cleared him to play again.
New York Knicks (2005–2011)
In October 2005, Eddy Curry was traded to the New York Knicks. This trade involved several players and draft picks. His first season with the Knicks was a bit tough, and his performance numbers went down. Some coaches were frustrated because he struggled with defense and rebounding.
However, in the 2006–07–07 season, Curry played much better under a new coach. He became the team's main scorer. He averaged career-highs in points (19.6), rebounds (7.1), and minutes (34.9) per game. On April 7, 2007, Curry scored his career-best 43 points in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He even made his first-ever three-pointer in that game, which helped send it into overtime!
In the 2007–08 season, Curry's performance wasn't as strong. He also showed up to training camp out of shape in 2008. This made his new coach unhappy, and Curry lost his starting spot. He worked hard to get back in shape during the 2009 off-season.
Miami Heat (2011–2012)
In February 2011, Curry was part of a big trade that sent him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he didn't play any games for them. His contract was bought out, making him a free agent.
In December 2011, Curry signed with the Miami Heat. He had lost almost 70 pounds since his last NBA game. In January 2012, he played in an NBA game for the first time since 2009. He scored six points in six minutes. As part of the Heat's 2011–2012 championship team, Curry played in 14 games. Even though he didn't play much in the playoffs, he was part of a championship-winning team!
Dallas Mavericks (2012)
After his time with the Heat, Curry signed with the San Antonio Spurs in October 2012, but he didn't make their final team roster.
He was then picked up by the Dallas Mavericks on October 25, 2012. He played only two games for Dallas before being waived. His last NBA game was on October 31, 2012, where the Mavericks lost to the Utah Jazz.
Playing Overseas (2012–2019)
After his NBA career, Eddy Curry played basketball in other countries.
- Zhejiang Golden Bulls (2012–2013): In December 2012, Curry signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China. He played in 29 games, averaging 23.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He missed the last two playoff games due to illness.
- Zhuhai Wolf Warriors (2018–2019): Curry later signed with the Zhuhai Wolf Warriors in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) in 2018. He played for them during the 2018–19 season before being released in January 2019.
Personal Life
Eddy Curry is married and has seven children. His wife, Patrice Curry, appeared on the TV show Basketball Wives LA.
Health Concerns
During his time with the Chicago Bulls, Eddy Curry had some health concerns related to his heart. Several heart doctors said he was okay to play. The Bulls management was very concerned and wanted him to take a special genetic test to be sure. They even offered him a lot of money if the test showed a problem. However, Curry decided not to take the test and continued his basketball career based on the advice of other medical experts.
Awards and Accomplishments
High School Achievements
- Named USA Today First Team All-American.
- Chosen as PARADE High School Player of the Year.
- Received Illinois Mr. Basketball honors.
- Was the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the McDonald's All-American game. He scored 28 points, had 8 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots in that game.
- Led Thornwood High School to the Illinois State Championship game. He averaged 22.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 blocked shots during his senior year.
NBA Achievements
- Led the league in field goal percentage in the 2002–03–03 season.
- Won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2012.
Images for kids
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Curry with the New York Knicks in January 2007
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Curry attempts a shot in a January 2007 game against the Washington Wizards.
