Learn everything there is to know about Steph Curry’s parents, including their steadfast support and personal interests.

Stephen Curry’s family has long been involved in basketball.

For almost twenty years, Dell Curry, his father, was an NBA player. Dell got married to Steph’s mother, Sonya Curry, in 1988 after they first met at Virginia Tech. Together, they went on to have three children: a daughter named Sydel and two sons, Seth and Steph. But after 33 years of marriage, Dell and Sonya announced their divorce in August 2021.

In November 2020, Stephen said of his mother, “My mom is an educator, so [giving back] was a part of her job,” to People. “It involved staying late after school to mentor children, converse with parents, and offer them support. She had to give up a lot of her time and be unselfish.”

The star for the Golden State Warriors also gave his dad accolades, adding, “My dad was involved in the community whenever he had the chance. He consistently made a significant impression.”

The basketball player’s comments on his parents are included in this list of things to know about them.

Dell and Sonya were college friends.

Sonya saw her future husband at men’s basketball practice during her official recruiting visit to Virginia Tech, where she would later play volleyball, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

 A few years later, Dell was drafted into the NBA, and the pair relocated to Utah so he could join the Utah Jazz as a professional. 

 Dell was an NBA player.

Dell participated in the NBA from 1986 to 2002, representing the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors, among other clubs. Most famously, he spent ten seasons as a standout guard for the Charlotte Hornets.

In 2020, Dell said to Reuters, “I taught my boys the fundamentals of the game and the fundamentals of the shot.” 

They needed to be self-motivated and dedicated, and being around the game and observing my colleagues, who are among the world’s top players, helped them understand how the pros approach their work. However, they needed to be self-reliant and committed.

Among his many accomplishments are his 1996 induction into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame and his retirement as the Hornets’ all-time top scorer. The father of three has been a commentator on Charlotte Hornets television broadcasts since 2009 in addition to helping his own sons pursue NBA careers. 

 Together, they are parents to three children.

Three kids are the parents of Sonya and Dell. 1988 saw the birth of their first son, Steph, and 1990 saw the birth of their second son, Seth. In 1994, they welcomed Sydel into their family.

Six grandchildren are also grandsons of the ex-couple. Seth and his wife Callie Rivers Currys have two children, Carter and Cash, while Steph and his wife Ayesha Curry are parents to three children together: Riley, Ryan, and Canon. In 2021, Sydel gave birth to her first child, a son, with her husband Damion Lee.

Steph claims he is a mommy’s boy.

Even though Steph and Seth play in the NBA like their father does, Steph acknowledges that his mother helped him develop some of his talents.

In 2013, the father of three told SF Gate, “A lot of people say whatever defensive abilities I have, I get from her.” “My toughness and grittiness.”

The NBA champion said, “She’s a strong woman,” referring to his mother. “She did an excellent job raising my siblings and me; we grew up in an NBA family with a traveling dad. She is much to be commended for the way we worked out.”

Sonya and Dell have contributed to their communities.

The pair established the Huntersville, North Carolina-based Christian Montessori School of Lake Norman in 1995. Three years later, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dell founded the Dell Curry Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving young people.

The primary role models in the household, in my opinion, are the parents. However, since we are the major characters, all the youngsters are seeing how we live, and I believe that giving back to the community plays a significant role in it. I’m really happy of my sons for seeing that and carrying on the tradition of giving back to the community, as I’ve always supported it,” Dell told Reuters.

In 2021, they got divorced.

After 33 years of marriage, Dell and Sonya revealed their separation to PEOPLE in August 2021. “We have made the decision to dissolve our marriage after giving it careful thought and considering the possibility of a trial separation over the past year. Although we are really saddened by this, our main concern is the ongoing happiness of our family.”

They went on, “We are incredibly appreciative of all the benefits and achievements! We will continue to follow similar routes and remain devoted to and supportive of our children and grandchildren. We request that our privacy be upheld and that you pray for our family as we proceed.”

Writing on raising their children, Sonya

In her memoir Fierce Love, the mother of three discusses raising her family, how her faith kept her afloat during difficult times, and her love of learning.

“To share my story, my testimony, and my experience so that others may find strength and purpose in their own journeys,” Sonya told PEOPLE about why she penned Fierce Love, which was released in May 2022. I want to inspire people to laugh every day, live purposefully, love ferociously, and pray nonstop.”

In a news release, Seth said, “My mom was always the one to challenge us growing up.” “You can see her greatest qualities in each and every one of us.”

“I can’t wait for everyone to meet my mom through her inspiring story,” Sydel continued. For our family, my mother has been an incredible pillar.”

Steph and Dell enjoyed a memorable moment following Steph’s 2022 NBA Championship victory.

Sonya and Dell were present as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in June 2022. Their son, who has won four NBA titles and was awarded MVP of the 2022 NBA Finals, was now an NBA champion.

Steph hugged his father, filled with emotion, just as the game’s final buzzer sounded. “I didn’t even know [Dell] was down there, to be honest with you,” he said. “I knew time was kind of running out when I saw him and lost it. It was so unique that all I wanted to do was savor the moment.”

Every week, Dell follows up with Steph and Seth.

Because he understands the demands of the NBA, Dell makes an effort to see his sons at least once a week.

In April 2023, he told PEOPLE, “I try to check in with them every week and I watch all of their games, whether live or taped.”

However, they seldom ever talk about basketball.

Dell remarked, “[We] talk about golf and grandkids more than basketball,” and he added he tells Steph or Seth “nothing” when their teams are losing. “They’re grown men, they’ve been in the league long enough to know how this league is — you can’t get too high or too low.”

“Knowing what they’re going through as an NBA player is the fun part of being a dad and a fan,” he went on. When things are bad, sometimes all you need to speak about is anything but basketball.”