Ex-Timberwolves GM: Dell Curry didn't want me to draft Steph

David Kahn served as the Minnesota Timberwolves' general manager for four dark years that saw them post a league-worst 89-223 (.285) record. He's perhaps best known for passing on Stephen Curry not once, but twice in the 2009 NBA draft.

Kahn revealed Monday via Sports Illustrated that his decision was influenced by Steph's father, Dell Curry.

In 2009, just days after my May 22 hiring as President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the agent for Steph Curry told me that Steph's father, Dell, did not want his son to be drafted by Minnesota - "No offense," as I recall Jeff Austin, his agent saying to me at the Chicago draft combine.

Jeff Austin ... told me this was a family request. "I really need your help on this," Jeff said, explaining why there would be no visit and perhaps even hell-to-pay.

Kahn ultimately selected Ricky Rubio at No. 5 and Jonny Flynn at No. 6, while Curry fell to the Golden State Warriors with the seventh overall pick.

Dell, a former NBA player and current Charlotte Hornets broadcaster, admitted last year he told Minnesota not to draft his son.

This is the first time Kahn has told his side of the story, suggesting the warning did in fact impact his choice. The ousted executive also made a point to take a shot at Dell, comparing him to Lonzo Ball's father LaVar, who's hell-bent on having the Los Angeles Lakers draft his son on Thursday.

While Dell's intervention may have played a role in the Timberwolves' unforgivable mistake, he cannot be blamed for it. Kahn was "captivated" by Rubio, but worried that like Steph, the Spaniard would never come to Minnesota.

Unwilling to risk drafting two players in the lottery who had no interest in suiting up for the T-Wolves, the GM chose Rubio and Flynn, who reminded him of New York Knicks greats Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe.

That comparison turned out to be off. Way off. Rubio remains a starter for Minnesota, but Flynn's been out of the league for five years. Meanwhile, Curry is the reigning back-to-back league MVP, owner of two NBA championship rings (and counting), and could be the greatest 3-point shooter ever.

The Timberwolves have the seventh pick in the upcoming draft and hope team president Tom Thibodeau does a better job with it than Kahn would've.