Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr‘s desire to speak candidly on social and political issues has at times caused internal frustration, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
Kerr could leave the Warriors this offseason. He just finished the final year of his contract.
“League and team sources said throughout the season that Kerr’s desire to speak candidly on social and political issues has at times caused internal frustration,” Friedell wrote. “Veteran journalist Marc Spears said during a radio interview this week that one reason Kerr may be hesitant to return is that he has felt “stifled” at times.
“Whether that becomes a deciding factor remains unclear. What is clear is that optimism inside the organization about Kerr’s return has faded in recent weeks. Multiple team sources have stressed that no decision has been made, and won’t be made until Kerr meets with Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy, but staffers have begun to brace themselves for the possibility of change.”
The Warriors hired Kerr in 2014 after firing Mark Jackson. Kerr has guided Golden State to six NBA Finals and four championships. Stephen Curry has won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and broke the NBA’s all-time 3-point field goals record under Kerr, while Draymond Green won the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Golden State went 73-9 during the 2015-16 season. 73 is the most wins in NBA history in a regular season. The Warriors, though, didn’t win the championship that year against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Warriors missed the playoffs this season. They won the 9-10 play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers but lost the 7-10 play-in game to the Phoenix Suns.
“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr said after the Warriors lost to the Suns. “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.”
Golden State has missed the playoffs four out of the past seven seasons. Kerr and Co. haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2022.
Curry, the best shooter in NBA history, has one year left on his contract. The future Hall of Famer and the Warriors are expected to discuss a contract extension this offseason.
After the Warriors lost to the Suns, Curry was asked to speak about Kerr’s uncertain future. Kerr huddled with Curry and Green after the Phoenix game and said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death.”
“I want Coach to be happy,” Curry said. “I want him to be excited for the job. I want him to believe he’s the right guy for the job. I want him to have an opportunity to enjoy what he does, whatever that means for him. Everybody’s plan is their own. He knows how I feel about him.”
Kerr is 604-353 in the regular season and 104-48 in the playoffs with the Warriors. The 60-year-old has had an extraordinary NBA life. He won three championships with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson on the Chicago Bulls and two rings with Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Gregg Popovich on the San Antonio Spurs as a player before winning four titles with the Warriors as a coach.
Kerr is the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point field goal percentage. He shot 45.4% from 3-point range during his career.
