PHOENIX (AP) 鈥� 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.
鈥淚t might still go on. It may not,鈥� Kerr said after the and were .
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.
Kerr wouldn’t reveal what he said in that moment. 鈥淣one of your business,鈥� he said, smiling.
The NBA later posted and Kerr could be heard saying: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death. I thank you. I appreciate you.”
Green and Curry both made clear that they want Kerr 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.
鈥淚 want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe you know he鈥檚 the right guy for the job,鈥� Curry said. “I want him to have an opportunity to again enjoy what he does. So, whatever that means for him, you know, everybody鈥檚 plan is their own. And I鈥檓 not going to try to tell anybody what to do. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn鈥檛 even need to be said.鈥�
Added Green, when asked if he could even fathom the Warriors without Kerr on the sideline: “I just don鈥檛 deal with change well. I don鈥檛 love it. So, I don鈥檛 want to think about that. I hope that鈥檚 not the case. but we鈥檒l see what happens.鈥�
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 鈥� and once since then as well 鈥� 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 鈥� and barely 鈥� 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.
鈥淲e’ll talk about what鈥檚 next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason,鈥� Kerr said. “And we will come to a collaborative decision on what鈥檚 next. I don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. there鈥檚 a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it鈥檚 time for new blood and new ideas and all that.
“And, if that鈥檚 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.鈥�
Kerr wouldn’t say what some of the factors are that might sway his decision, calling those private.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 right, it鈥檚 right,” Kerr said. 鈥淎nd if it’s not, it’s not.鈥�
There will be talks with Curry as well; the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history, who just finished his 17th season 鈥� all with Golden State 鈥� said he plans to play for 鈥渕ultiple鈥� seasons after this and would be interested in an extension.
鈥淚t’ll be a busy summer for the Warriors,鈥� 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 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.
鈥淭his 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鈥檛 have it. But the competitive desire was there. And I鈥檓 proud of the group for finishing the season the right way by continuing to fight and trying to win every game.鈥�
Kerr 鈥� who won five championships as a player, to go along with his four rings as a coach 鈥� 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 鈥� the greatest face of a franchise he’s ever seen, he said 鈥� is another honor, Kerr has insisted.
鈥淭he only thing I鈥檝e learned is that I鈥檓 the luckiest guy in the NBA鈥檚 history,” Kerr said.
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