Steve Kerr is staying with the Warriors on a new two-year contract, and it sounds like the decision came after he took a step back and found his groove again.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Kerr had real questions about his future following a frustrating season that ended in a play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns. He said afterward he wasn’t sure he’d return, mentioning that coaching jobs have an “expiration date” and hinting it could be time for new ideas.
Per Slater, Kerr took about a week to reset before reconnecting with owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.. A golf trip followed, and somewhere along the way, the energy to coach again came back.
There were options if Kerr wanted to step away. Media work was available, and he has done front office roles before. But Slater writes that Kerr prefers the competition and pace of the sideline.
The contract talks went beyond just whether Kerr wanted back in. Per the report, discussions with Lacob and Dunleavy included potential tweaks to playing style, coaching staff and the roster after a 37-45 finish. The team is also expected to be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for a significant stretch due to injuries.
Slater adds there was a sense Kerr’s future could have gone another direction if the organization had fully leaned into a rebuild. Instead, bringing him back suggests the Warriors will try to stay competitive, even with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green getting deeper into their careers.
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