Steve Kerr remains committed to coaching Warriors following some doubts after the season
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Once Steve Kerr came to the realization that there was nothing he'd rather do than coach the Golden State Warriors and the team figured out there was no one better to guide the organization through Stephen Curry's final seasons, the final decision for both sides was easy. The four-time championship winning coach will remain in charge of the Warriors after signing a two-year contract. “I still love what I do,” Kerr said Friday.
“If I were tired and burned out, then I would not be doing this. But I love my job, I love coaching the Warriors, being in this city, being in the Bay. ” That was in doubt at the end of a 37-win season that left Golden State out of the playoffs for the fourth time in seven seasons.
Kerr thought it might be time to step away and at times it appeared like he might after his emotional embrace of Curry and Draymond Green at the end of a season-ending loss to Phoenix in the play-in tournament. Kerr took about a week after the season before deciding with his wife, Margot, and the rest of his family that he wanted to remain as coach. He then met several times with general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob before the sides finalized a two-year deal.
“I’m happiest when I’m on the court with my players, when I’m collaborating with Mike and the organization,” Kerr said. “I love this, and even through the struggles this year, I love the struggle, I love that challenge. Margot said to me, you know, if you leave, you can come back and coach, but you can never coach the Warriors again.
That was the most meaningful thing. ” Kerr has been one of the NBA's most successful coaches since being hired by Golden State in 2015. He won the title in his first season, helped the team set a record with 73 wins in the regular season in 2015-16, won back-to-back championships in 2017 and ’18 and won it all again in 2022.