Ex-Timberwolves GM David Kahn Explains How Team Passed on Steph Curry Twice

The former Minnesota executive is thriving in France, but the missteps in the Timberwolves front office still loom large.

Exiled former Timberwolves general manager David Kahn, 14 years removed from passing on Steph Curry twice, is now the president of Paris Basketball in the LNB Pro B basketball league.

While his focus is now on turning France into a basketball hotbed, many remember Kahn for his blunders stateside, highlighted by his decision to not draft Curry, a four-time NBA champion who is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen back in 2009.

Instead of drafting Curry, Kahn took point guard Ricky Rubio and shooting guard Jonny Flynn. Rubio has had a nice career, but nowhere near as good as Curry’s Hall of Fame track. As for Flynn, he flamed out after three years due to a career-altering hip injury.

So why Rubio and Flynn? Kahn told staffers that they were “reminiscent of Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe.” 

Minnesota went 89–223 in his tenure as the team’s general manager. In exit interviews following his run with the Timberwolves, Kahn reportedly doubled-down on his rationale for taking Rubio and Flynn over Curry, and refused to admit he was wrong even as it was clear that the 2009 draft was a bust for Minnesota.