Steve Kerr has been one of the most silent, formidable figures in the NBA for over three decades now. He’s seen everything from being a champion as a player on the Bulls’ dynasty to coaching the Warriors’ dynasty for over a decade. Now, it looks like he’s taking a page out of his former coach Phil Jackson’s playbook to deal with the ongoing distractions coming at him and the Golden State Warriors. Kerr’s contract ends after this season, and the media has already started questioning what the future holds for him and the franchise.
“By sort of taking it, addressing it, and putting it over there, he removed it from the potential storylines for the season. And frankly, I mean, it’s not too different from what his former coach Phil Jackson did many times in his career,” NBA Insider Tim Bontemps said on The Hoop Collective.
Kerr has made it clear that there will be no contract negotiations or talks around it during the season. He will wait for the season to play out and only then decide what needs to be done. The Warriors’ head coach seemingly took the same route as Phil Jackson, who first won two championships as a player with the New York Knicks and then went on to win 11 championships as a head coach. Now, Kerr seems to enjoy the same status as Jackson did during his career.
“Steve Kerr, like Phil Jackson, is in the extraordinarily enviable position of being able to do whatever the hell he wants. And if he wants to coach the Warriors the next season, guess what? He’ll be the coach of the Warriors next season. And if he wants to test free agency and see if he wants to coach somewhere else, he can go do that.” Bontemps added.
Steve Kerr’s two-year contract gives him $17.5 million a year. He’s one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, and that would only increase if he signs a new deal. In my opinion, Stephen Curry’s contract will also have an impact on what Kerr wants to do. If he feels he’s not the best fit for Curry in his final years, he’ll move on and let him try it out with someone else.
But if the Warriors come close to a title this year, he will likely give it another shot, with Curry and Jimmy Butler still signed for multiple years. Although with Kerr, there are other options also, since he’s had a multifaceted career both in and around the court. Before becoming one of the most successful head coaches in modern NBA, Kerr spent time as an analyst and was lauded for his valuable insight and straightforward yet calming persona.
“If he decided he wants to go back and do television, he can do that. He will be the most sought-after television person in a long time. He’s already been great at it in the past… He’ll get a giant check if he does that, and he just wants to go hang with his grandkids and be done. He can do that, and he’ll walk into the Hall of Fame as one of the best five coaches ever,” Bontemps concluded.
Kerr has a clear understanding of setting the tone of the season for the team. And not letting outside noise derail their goals. Thus, he’s put an end to the distraction before the season even starts. A sign of a great leader who is focused on the team’s goals more than his own.
