Stephen Curry's rise to NBA stardom started with LI's McKillop

In this March 21, 2008 file photo, Davidson'sStephen Curry wouldn’t be where he is today if not for a man who once called Long Island his home. He said so himself on Tuesday night.

Standing at a podium during an awards ceremony in San Francisco, the Warriors star guard gave thanks to Bob McKillop, his former head coach at Davidson College in North Carolina. McKillop, who moved from Queens to Merrick as a kid and played basketball at Chaminade High School and Hofstra University, began his coaching career in Long Island.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” Curry told McKillop during the Coaching Corps Game Changer Awards, where professional athletes from the Bay Area honor coaches or…