The Golden State Warriors’ future is looking murky after the team’s loss in the NBA play-in tournament, and head coach Steve Kerr seems to know it.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen next,” said Kerr to players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in a huddle on the sideline. “But I love you guys to death. Thank you.”
The heartfelt moment — picked up by a TV microphone — came in the waning seconds of a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, April 17, ending the Warriors’ season.
The final buzzer marked the end of Kerr’s contract with the Warriors, and the 60-year-old said after the game that he’s going to take a few weeks to mull over his future.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kerr said to reporters. “I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
He continued, “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”
Curry, 38, joined the Warriors in 2009. Green, 36, was drafted by the team in 2012. Kerr took over as head coach in 2014, and together the three helped build one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history.
In the 12 seasons since Kerr joined Curry and Green in Golden State, the Warriors have won four NBA titles (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022). They’ve reached the playoffs eight times and played in six NBA Finals.
“If [my time is done], then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise in front of our fans and to coach Steph Curry, [Draymond Green], the whole group,” Kerr said. “It may still go on. It may not. I don’t know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and then reconvene.”
Both Curry and Green have expressed interest in continuing to play for the Warriors. While Curry still has one more season on his contract, Green has the option to opt out of his contract with his player option for next season.
Despite the option, Green reiterated after Friday’s game that he wants to remain in Golden State.
“Hopefully I’ve done enough to still be here,” Green said.
