At the end of an extensive, in-depth interview with Charles Bethea of The New Yorker (subscription required), Steve Kerr spoke as if he isn’t ready to step down as the Warriors‘ head coach. Kerr said he doesn’t want to “abandon” Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the rest of the team, and said he still enjoys the work that coaching entails.
“I wake up excited to come to the gym and coach basketball and collaborate with the staff and see the players and try to help them achieve something,” Kerr told Bethea. “That’s an amazing life. And that’s all that really matters is: Do you enjoy what you do every day and are you fulfilled? I still am.”
Appearing on Yahoo Sports Daily on Tuesday (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested even if Kerr is interested in remaining in his current position, it’s not necessarily as simple as Golden State’s longtime head coach simply deciding whether or not to return.
“What I think people have misunderstood about this (is that) this is not a straight emotional decision, like, ‘Do I have it within me to coach the Warriors or not?'” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM).“There is not a contract sitting on the table. It’s not like the Warriors said, ‘Hey man, sign this anytime, whenever you feel like it.’ They did not have contract extension discussions. They called those off. Steve called those off. He is making the highest salary amongst all NBA coaches at $17 million, that’s a championship-competition-level salary. This team is not a championship contender right now.
“The other thing… (is) there is some desire within the organization for Steve Kerr to potentially change his coaching staff. There’s some desire for Steve Kerr to change some strategy, particularly offensively. That is not a controversial statement. When a team that is this expensive and this veteran underachieves and misses the playoffs, to say that you want potential changes is not a shocking thing. But the question is, is Kerr willing to make those changes? Is Kerr willing to coach for a different salary next year? These are the real questions. This is where the rubber meets the road.
“… This might come down to a negotiating thing. It might not be sentimental at all. This might be good old-fashioned negotiating. Steve Kerr can leave the sideline and walk right into a broadcasting job, in a selection of places, for big money and an easier life. So his leverage is there that he has that out there.”
As Kerr weighs his future, we have more on the Warriors:
- Within that same New Yorker interview, Kerr also explained why he’s skeptical that Green will want to become a basketball coach after he retires as a player. “I don’t know that he’ll coach,” Kerr said. “He definitely has the brain for it. I don’t know if he has the patience. He’s an incredibly passionate, emotional guy, and that passion and energy has frequently gotten him in trouble. And I love him. I think he’s a really good-hearted person with an incredible brain, but if he wants to coach he’s going to have to learn how to control some of that emotion, that desire, and that fire that burns within him, and it’s not an easy thing to do.”
- Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area evaluates the 2025/26 Warriors based on several areas, including offense, defense, new additions, and health, among others. Golden State’s stars – Curry and Jimmy Butler – earned the highest mark (a B-plus) from Johnson, since they remained highly productive when they were healthy.
- Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) explores several of the decisions facing the Warriors this summer and wonders whether the team might try to maintain salary cap flexibility for 2027 if it doesn’t trade for a star in the coming months.
- What would it take for the Warriors to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in a summer trade? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report considers that question and lays out a hypothetical scenario in which Golden State gives up four first-round picks along with Butler and Brandin Podziemski for the two-time MVP.
warriors are not giving up 4 1st round picks for Giannis. Giannis is not going to sign an extension with the warriors when the Bucks are in the same situation as the Warriors. The media will push this all off season. I just hope he is traded soon so they will end the Giannis to warriors trade
Giannis is likely to stay with Warriors, IMO
The better deal would be
Draymond, Porzingis, Moody and 4 Firsts for Giannis
Porzingis: sign 1 year $20 million (salary works, Bucks rebuild with 3 expiring contracts)
Warriors starters
Curry
Giannis
Butler
Santos
Lottery pick 2026: Caleb Wilson or Lendeborg
6th man: Pod
7th man: Horford
Giannis is not signing with the warriors. he is ring chasing.
Has to be 3 year min in length on a sign and trade
Then trade Porzingis in December 15
Warriors need to rebuild and not trade away any draft picks.
After next season…
Doc Rivers is packing his bags and heading to GSW LMAO
No high profile coach is going to sign up to deal with Draymond’s baggage. Warriors are stuck, it’s Kerr or rebuild.
Green has 1 year left.
Doc gonna swoop in
It was rebuild whether or not Kerr stays.
ESPN had the worse trade for teh warriors. Sending over 2 1st round picks for Leonard. A guy who is often injured and has only 1 year left on his contract. The last theing they need.
It seems like Kerr will run it back, as expected. But I’m sure there are many within the GS Org that are waiting for him to go, so they can move on to the next chapter already.
Kerr’s personal relationship with Dray in particular, is definitely getting in the way of his coaching. The lines between them are too blurred.
Sign Vucevic and Simons. Draft Lendeborg.
Do they have a second rd pick ?? If so draft a center, rim protector.
Sort of off-topic but watching the Celtics game, Vooch sucks and all you guys who wanted to trade for him at the deadline are out of your minds.
He has no chance on defense and offensively all he does is jack a three here and there.
You know who you are. You were wrong. He’s terrible and no wonder the Warriors didn’t bite when he was available.
As a qualifier, I am using these strong words because so many have used strong language in regards to what the warriors have done and chosen not to do at the deadline or even during the off-season when building the roster.
Some of these guys that you all mention are not the answer, no matter how hard you push for them.
Post is better than him since he can play defense. They should bring Bassey back.
Recommending or saying a player is a fit. Is not a push. Its more what they need and is available. And can be worked into cap. Today there is more to just adding a player. First off Vucevic has been hurt on Celtics. So you haven’t seen him yet. But don’t let that stop you from judging him.
He’s only played 16 gms for Celtics. Yet with Bulls in 48 gms. 31 mins, 51%/84%/38% splits, 17 pts, 9 reb
Please tell us a Warrior big who has done in last 25 yrs. We will all wait ?????
the problem is Vuc only brings offense to the team. Unless he is coming to teh warriors on a minimum deal which he can get more somewhere else its not happening. I rather see the warriors sign Bassey who is younger and play defense as the warriors back up center. Knicks need Vuc more than the warriors
It’s not like he’s a savior. This is for fans who just can’t take an outsider giving good advice. Its weak to talk while not knowing the facts.
Bassey is not a fit with Warriors. We are talking a last run here. Not building a team. Unfortunately Jimmy’s injury has really hurt that process. Imo you have to build like he is coming back. Or you move his contract before next season starts.
It’s not a wise move to sign KP. And imo he will want more than Vucevic. I get that money is an issue. We are talking a starting center here. He is definitely worth looking into. As is Simons two FA. No trade needed unless it’s a sign-n-trade. Both fit this system well. I definitely take Vucevic over KP. Warriors don’t have many options to do this right. And they better not blow this yrs pick.
There is no last run. Time to rebuild. Signing Vucevic and Simmons is not a good idea. They are not good defensively and they just delay the inevitable. Why would the Warriors want their contracts on the books past next season?
Bassey is definitely a fit for the Warriors. As Monte Poole said, he is a cross between Looney and McGee. He does Draymond type of work.
Well your team certainly disagrees with that. Cause they have all come out in support of Curry. Every move they have till the KP move. Has been geared to support a last run. Totally understandable you don’t see it.
There is a reason Bassey has bounced around since 2021-22. 6 teams in 5 yrs. He is nothing like Green.
But please keep him.
vuc doesn’t fit teh warriors. Simons fit if he can be a 6th man off the bench or if they trade Podz. I just don’t see Simons taking a deal under $8 million a year.
Simons and Vuc both will likely be 30 mill. Maybe less. But both can get their stats up playing in this system imo. So might sign just for that. The pressure will be on to keep KP. Otherwise it just looks like a dumb salary dump. Vuc should sign for less than KP imo. And has better 2way potential in this system.
Warriors still need another ball handler playmaker. Cause Podz is more a scorer. That’s why I say they could draft a guard. A big PG like Brown or even Burries. Is something Kerr would love. Simons is a young vet who can handle the ball. And is that shooter they are missing. A career 40% 3pt shooter.
Two FA even adding one is a plus. There aren’t many moves out there. Either KP or other FAs.
There should be a limit on how many #1 picks can be traded. Wonder if the Knicks would do the Bridges trade if they could turn back time ????
17 million is way too much for Kerr and probably any coach for that matter
It was only 2 yr contract, much cheaper than 100m long term contract like Detroit’ Williams.