Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has never been one to shy away from honesty, and following the shocking dismissal of Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone just days before the playoffs, Kerr offered a sobering perspective on the evolving state of NBA leadership.
Speaking on the fragility of coaching jobs in the modern NBA, Kerr addressed what many in the industry have quietly felt for years: stability is vanishing, and the rise of billionaire ownership is accelerating the trend.
“I think one thing that’s happened that most teams are now owned by billionaires, big corporations. So we’re all more expendable. There’s so much money in the business now.”
“There are pluses and minuses to that. We’re all making bigger salaries than we were five years ago, but we’re all much more vulnerable because I don’t think a lot of the owners are that concerned with firing a guy and paying him off to go away.”
“Again, this is a business that we chose and we all love it, but it’s not the most stable profession, that’s for sure.”
The Warriors coach’s statement echoes across a league that has seen multiple title-winning coaches—Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, Mike Budenholzer, and now Michael Malone—let go not long after reaching the mountaintop.
Kerr, who has held his position with Golden State since 2014 and has won four titles, is now one of only a few championship coaches still employed by the team he won with. The others? Erik Spoelstra, Gregg Popovich, and Joe Mazzulla.
Michael Malone’s firing is particularly jarring. In 2023, he led the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title and helped elevate Nikola Jokic into a generational force. Malone had been a consistent voice in Denver since 2015, compiling a 471-327 record over nearly a decade.
He oversaw the franchise’s transformation from a middling team into a perennial contender. Now, after a four-game losing streak and internal conflict with GM Calvin Booth, he’s out—just three games before the postseason begins.
Kerr’s point about expendability is particularly resonant when viewed in the context of Malone’s departure. Despite his success, the presence of billionaire ownership made his contract buyout a small price to pay for a potential playoff spark.
This shift is a sign of the times in the NBA. While coaching salaries have ballooned thanks to media rights deals and global popularity, the patience once granted to leaders has evaporated. Today, it’s about immediacy. Results must be sustained—constantly.
Owners, often viewing franchises as billion-dollar assets in a competitive portfolio, aren’t interested in gradual progression. One losing streak, one locker room rift, one philosophical clash—and even championship equity can vanish overnight.
The fallout in Denver is still being felt. Nikola Jokic, whose loyalty to Malone is well-known, has yet to comment publicly. His reaction may dictate the future of the franchise. Assistant coach David Adelman steps in at the helm, but the shockwaves remain.
For Steve Kerr, the message is clear: In the NBA’s high-stakes era, even a championship ring doesn’t guarantee job security.
