OAKLAND - This is a different Christmas for Stephen Curry. His first as a pro. His first away from home. His first playing basketball for a losing team.

Life is a learning process. Curry was ahead of the curve. His father, Dell, played in the NBA. Stephen knew more than others. But there was much he didn't know.

He didn't know what it was to defend Chris Paul. The instruction came Wednesday night. He didn't know what it was to play for the Golden State Warriors, who have won only one of their last 12 games, only seven of their total 28.

He didn't know what it is to play what amounted to an entire college season before the end of December and still have three and a half months on the schedule.

Curry's going to be a good one, maybe a great one. Yet he's a rookie on a bad team, a rookie who said he has no regrets but thought he might be drafted by the New York Knicks last summer when he was taken by the Warriors with the seventh pick in the first round.

One spot ahead of the Knicks.

"It's always been my dream to play in the NBA,'' said Curry bravely.

That dream was kick-started when after his junior year at Davidson, he entered the draft, and the New York tabloids were relentless in their hype of the point guard the Knicks so needed.

"Playing in Madison Square Garden every night, living in New York, that could have been fun,'' Curry said last month. Since he said it to the New York Times, there's always the possibility the words were aimed at a particular audience.

If he stayed another year, he would have had a chance to lead the country in scoring once again. If he stayed another year, he would have been home for the holidays, Davidson, he pointed out, "only 30 minutes down the road'' from his home in Charlotte.

If he stayed another year, however, he wouldn't be starting in the NBA, earning a salary of $2,7 million.

"I like him very much,'' said Don Nelson, the 69-year-old Warriors coach, belying a well-earned reputation not trusting rookies. "He makes mistakes, but I understand them. They're part of his maturation. The same passes he made in college are not going to be there. He'll figure it out.''

A week and a half ago he had his best game, 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals. He's teamed with Monta Ellis in the backcourt, and Ellis, who prefers handling the ball himself and originally said he didn't want to play alongside Curry, now is thriving,

The Warriors, in their ongoing failures, missing the playoffs 14 of the last 15 years, find temporary joy with the two guards, management talking up Ellis for the All-Star Game and, of course, Nelson acting deferential toward Curry.

Even after Curry was burned by the New Orleans Hornets' Paul, one of the game's best.

"I thought we played hard, and until the final minutes did a good job on him,'' said Nelson.

At 6-foot-3, Curry is not tall enough to match up against the taller guards. "The stuff I used to do in college to defend,'' Ellis conceded, "I can't do.''

Not at the moment, but he'll get better and no less significantly in a league where the superstars get the benefit of the doubt from the officials, he'll get respect.

The athletes are wonderful, but if you want to know the manner in which the NBA is controlled, consider the late Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out once. In 1,045 games.

That record is safe. Curry twice in his opening 25 games was disqualified.

"I wouldn't say there was anything I didn't know about playing in the NBA,'' explained Curry. "As you say, I've been around, so nothing really surprises me. But it's a different situation when you're the one, not somebody else.''

It's notably different with the Warriors, who began the season with Stephen Jackson, in effect their leader, demanding a trade, sulking, and then finally being sent to Memphis. Here comes this kid from the opposite coast, Curry, and while he's trying to fit in, chaos is erupting.

Curry has survived so far. He tosses in three-pointers. He tosses passes to Ellis, who is averaging more than 24 points a game.

Curry is realistic. Work is not always enjoyable, even if the job is one one wanted.

"Trying to see how your body responds,'' said Curry, of a rook's worries, "being away from home for the first time, trying to reconnect with my friends and family, who are a big part of my life. I used to go home for the holidays. This time they'll have to come to Oakland, and they will for New Year's.

Merry Christmas, Stephen.