04/18/26 09:03:00
Printable Page
04/18 08:59 CDT Warriors coach Steve Kerr uncertain about his future, notes
'these jobs all have an expiration date'
Warriors coach Steve Kerr uncertain about his future, notes 'these jobs all
have an expiration date'
PHOENIX (AP) --- Golden State coach Steve Kerr is contemplating his future, the
four-time NBA champion coach suggesting after the Warriors' season ended that
there is a chance he might not be back with the club next season.
"It might still go on. It may not," Kerr said after the Warriors lost in
Phoenix and were eliminated from the play-in tournament.
He shared an embrace with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the team's two
constants from the Warriors' title runs with Kerr, near the team's bench in the
game's final moments and appeared to mouth the words "thank you."
Kerr wouldn't reveal what he said in that moment.
"None of your business," he said, smiling.
Green and Curry both made clear that they want him back. Kerr's future has been
the subject of speculation for some time, fueled in part by him coaching this
year on the final season of his existing contract. The Warriors missed the
playoffs this season for the fourth time in the last seven years.
"I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him
to believe you know he's the right guy for the job," Curry said. "I want him to
have an opportunity to again enjoy what he does. So, whatever that means for
him, you know, everybody's plan is their own. And I'm not going to try to tell
anybody what to do. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn't even need to
be said."
Added Green, when asked if he could even fathom the Warriors without Kerr on
the sideline: "I just don't deal with change well. I don't love it. So, I don't
want to think about that. I hope that's not the case. but we'll see what
happens."
The 60-year-old Kerr just finished his 12th season with the Warriors. He's
604-353 in that span, led Golden State to the NBA Finals in each of his first
five seasons --- and once since then as well --- plus guided the U.S. to
Olympic gold at the Paris Games in 2024.
His playoff record of 104-48 is nearly unmatched; among coaches with at least
100 playoff games in their career, his .684 playoff winning percentage is
second only --- and barely --- to Phil Jackson, who went 229-104 (.688).
Kerr said he'll meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike
Dunleavy to chart a path for what's next. He suggested that might come in a
week or two.
"We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this
offseason," Kerr said. "And we will come to a collaborative decision on what's
next. I don't know what's going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it.
These jobs all have an expiration date. there's a run that happens, and when
the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that.
"And, if that's the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most
amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of
our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole
group."
Kerr wouldn't say what some of the factors are that might sway his decision,
calling those private.
"If it's right, it's right," Kerr said. "And if it's not, it's not."
There will be talks with Curry as well; the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA
history, who just finished his 17th season --- all with Golden State --- said
he plans to play for "multiple" seasons after this and would be interested in
an extension.
"It'll be a busy summer for the Warriors," Curry said, smiling.
The Warriors were 37-45 this season, dealing with injuries the entire way. They
rallied Wednesday from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los
Angeles Clippers and move into Friday's play-in finale, only to fall short
against the Suns.
And now, the Warriors wait to see what's next.
"This was as tough a season as you can have, with the injuries, with all kinds
of adversity," Kerr said. "And they battled, and they battled the entire
season. They kept going the other night just to, you know, continue the season,
to show that kind of fight. And then tonight, we just didn't have it. But the
competitive desire was there. And I'm proud of the group for finishing the
season the right way by continuing to fight and trying to win every game."
Kerr --- who won five championships as a player, to go along with his four
rings as a coach --- has spoken often of his good fortunes within the game. He
played for Lute Olson at Arizona, played with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
in Chicago, played with David Robinson and Tim Duncan in San Antonio and played
for Jackson and Gregg Popovich as a pro.
And coaching Curry --- the greatest face of a franchise he's ever seen, he said
--- is another honor, Kerr has insisted.
"The only thing I've learned is that I'm the luckiest guy in the NBA's
history," Kerr said.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
|
