Warriors' Stephen Curry returns to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE - — The honorary Mayor of Charlotte returned to his hometown this weekend, and this time, Stephen Curry was more prepared to handle what awaited him.

In his rookie debut in Charlotte, Curry forced 23 shots, making only eight (35 percent) in a Warriors' loss. This time, he let the game dictate his 17 shots and made 10 (59 percent) in the Warriors' 96-95 victory.

"Last year when he came here, there was so much going on with it being his first time coming home," coach Keith Smart said. "This year, I think he was able to manage those commitments and focus on the game."

Curry still made the rounds, shaking hands and flashing grins for everyone, but he figured out how to transfer his pregame nerves into energy come game time.

He spent most of Thursday making wedding plans with his fiancee, Ayesha Alexander. Then, he attended Davidson College's 108-39 victory over Division III St. Joseph's (Maine) and did a little play-by-play for the radio broadcast.

"I was put on the spot, so I wasn't prepared, but I think I did all right," Curry said. "At one point I did say, 'Who is that?' You probably can't really do that on the radio."

Curry is so popular in these parts that Davidson changed its practice time Friday in order to attend the Warriors' game. When Curry took the floor pregame, there were already about 75 of an eventual 350 Davidson alums in the crowd.

"The anticipation was still there for me, and the energy in the crowd made for a great environment," Curry said. "I had an adrenaline rush, but I didn't have the butterflies I did last year."

Curry joked with Smart about staying behind for New Year's Eve, but the guard ended up flying with the team to Miami to get some rest before tonight's game. But don't worry, folks of Charlotte, your mayor will return soon enough.

Curry is five classes shy of his college degree, something he believes he can complete in the next two summers. If there is a lockout at the start of the 2011-12 season, however, Curry said he plans to enroll in all five classes at once.

Warriors opening tip

The Silas Effect: Stephen Curry expected a tough challenge, going against former Warriors assistant coach Stephen Silas on Friday. "I might just look to him for our play call," the point guard joked, "because he'll know what we're doing before we do." Silas left Golden State last week to join his father, Paul, with the Charlotte Bobcats.

- Rusty Simmons