Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy expects Steve Kerr to return next season

Steve Kerr is coaching on an expiring contract. The Golden State Warriors are operating as if he will be back.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said as much during an appearance on

Steve Kerr is coaching on an expiring contract. The Golden State Warriors are operating as if he will be back.

General manager Mike Dunleavy said as much during an appearance on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami, when asked directly about Kerr’s future.

“I don’t see why not,” Dunleavy said. “I think Steve’s mentioned wanting to get to the end of the season and figure it out. I think things, for him, are going well.”

Dunleavy added that the organization has not spent much time focusing on Kerr’s contract while the season is still unfolding.

“The focus internally between myself, Joe [Lacob], the players and Steve has really been on getting this thing right the rest of the season,” he said. “Obviously, on a personal level, love having Steve here. I would project that he’s our coach next year. But a lot of it is in his court.”

Kerr is in his 12th season with the Warriors. Earlier this year he said he was comfortable letting the season play out before deciding on his future.

“I will never leave Steph Curry,” Kerr told The Athletic’s Zena Keita in December.

Still, there has been speculation. The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported in January that some assistant coaches had quietly surveyed the league about potential opportunities.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob recently struck a similar tone.

“Really, it’s up to him,” Lacob told Kawakami. “We’ll figure it out later.”