Eddy Curry relishes being back in Chicago

Eddy Curry reflects on his homecoming experience.

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Eddy Curry came to Chicago as a wide-eyed 19-year-old kid tasked with bringing prominence back to a Chicago Bulls squad not long removed from the glory years of Michael Jordan. And while that obviously did not happen, Curry still cherishes his time in the Windy City. Now 40 years old and a father of six children, the Illinois native returned to Chicago to join the Bulls Fest. The retired 7-foot center fondly remembers his time in Chicago and the relationships he created with teammates, coaches, and fans alike.

Didn’t want to leave

Curry was shown love and admiration during his appearance at the two-day hoops festival last month. It was a far cry from his reception on his first return to Chicago following his trade to the New York Knicks in 2005.

“It’s awesome. It’s always cool to be there and to be accepted. Because I know when I first left here and I came back for the first time, I was getting booed and stuff. And I’m just, like, ‘Don’t y’all realize I didn’t even want to leave? Are y’all kidding me?’ So anytime I come here and it’s just so much love,” Curry said.

In 2005, Curry had a fantastic season, averaging 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. However, he was sat down late in the season after he complained of chest pain. The team had wanted Curry to take a DNA test to get to the root of the problem, but he argued he had already been cleared to play by several doctors. A stalemate occurred, and when the dust settled, Curry found himself in New York.

Nate Robinson & Eddy Curry dropped in as fans sampled our new Bull & Goose beer for the first time! @gooseisland | #BullsFest pic.twitter.com/3YCO5zi0lH

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) August 20, 2023

Safer environment

Curry expressed a desire to relocate back to Chicago from Texas but explained that he would fear too much for his children’s safety.

“I love any chance I get to come home. I wish that it was a safer environment because I would live here. Like I said, I’ve got six kids. So my main responsibility is to make sure that they have a chance to impact this world like I had a chance to impact the world,” Curry shared. “So I just feel like if Chicago was a safer environment being that I lived here, it’s hard for me. I worry enough. And to just think about them in transit going to visit this person, that person, relatives and things like that, that’s the only thing keeping me from moving back.”

“I was so young and just dumb. Like... 'I’m way better than Horace Grant. I’m better than (Luc Longley).’ That’s just how we were thinking. We were so young."@SamSmithHoops caught up w/ @Eddy_Curry:

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) August 23, 2023