Before the NBA MVP was Steph Curry, he was Dell Curry's son. This is, of course, mere semantics. Steph Curry is always both Steph Curry and Dell Curry's son. But the way he's known provides a window into how he appears to the world. And before it was as potentially the greatest shooter to ever play in the NBA, it was always in the shadow of the man who gave him that shot, his dad, Dell, a 16-year NBA vet and longtime sharpshooter. We couldn't help but wonder: What's it like for a man to give his son the gift of jump shooting, only to have him get so damn good at it that he not only becomes better than his old man, but more famous, too? (We also wondered: What the hell was it like playing with a young Vince Carter?)

When was the first time you realized Steph was going to be a next-level shooter like you?

He could always shoot, but next level? Early on in college. Because that was the first time that he played off the ball. He played on the ball in high school: getting off the ball, coming off down screens. [So] probably his freshman or sophomore year in college.

It has to be an interesting feeling as a dad to watch a son get really great at something you're teaching him, but then when he gets to a point where maybe he's better than you—

Oh, we’re past that point. He’s definitely better than I was. I had a two-dribble limit. He’s probably best off the dribble. His range is definitely farther than mine was. But it’s a different NBA. I would never take 35-foot three-pointers with 17 seconds on the shot clock. So it’s a different game, and he plays with a team and a coach that allows him to play that freely.

When did you first realize that he was better?

He was in the league. College, he was a good shooter. But when he started shooting against the best in the world, that’s when I knew, "Oh, okay."

How does the joy you feel watching him compare to the joy you felt playing the game?

It’s a lot more joy. As a father, you’re so proud, especially as an ex-player, knowing how hard it is to get to that level, to stay that consistent. Now he’s the guy on the scouting report that everybody’s trying to stop, and he’s still able to do what he does. It’s unbelievable, kind of surreal for your son to follow his father's footsteps, but to do it at the level that he’s been at... Yeah. I’m amazed just like everybody else when I watch him play.

Speaking of his father's footsteps: I think that 2000–2001 Toronto team you were on was one of the coolest ever. You had baby T-Mac and Vince! Charles Oakley! You guys sort of put basketball in Canada on the map. Was that palpable when you were playing?

It was starting to grow, and the success we had really boosted what had already started. One shot away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Especially towards the end of my career, it gave me new life. We had a great team. I just did an appearance with Tracy, Oak [Charles Oakley], Antonio Davis, Junkyard Dog [Jerome Williams], and Muggsy [Bogues]. We talked about how we were such a veteran team that we could actually coach ourselves. Everyone was so knowledgeable about the game, and we knew each other.

Do you remember where you were when you watched the famous Vince Carter dunk contest?

I was home.