Draymond Green has never been shy about praising Steve Kerr’s coaching ability, often crediting him for transforming the Golden State Warriors into a dynasty.
On The Draymond Green Show, the four-time NBA champion celebrated his longtime coach, acknowledging Kerr’s unmatched ability to make adjustments during playoff series. However, he admitted that there was one time Kerr didn’t have an answer—the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Steve always knows the right thing to say, he always knows the right adjustment to make, especially in the playoffs. I don’t think there’s anybody in the world that can make adjustments like this dude in a playoff series. It’s unbelievable.”
“The only time I’ve ever seen him not know what adjustment to make was against the Lakers a few years ago. The only reason he didn’t know was that we just didn’t have the size to compete with them. We were just outmatched.”
The 2023 playoff loss to the Lakers was a significant moment in Kerr’s coaching career. It marked the first time he had ever lost a Western Conference playoff series, having previously gone 5-for-5 in reaching the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019. The Warriors had built their dynasty on elite shooting, ball movement, and defensive versatility, but against the bigger and more physical Lakers, they had no answers.
The Lakers overwhelmed Golden State with their size—Anthony Davis dominated the paint, LeBron James orchestrated the offense, and role players like Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker IV provided timely scoring.
Kerr tried adjusting his rotations, experimenting with different defensive schemes, and playing Draymond at center, but none of it worked. The Warriors lost in six games, ending their hopes of defending their 2022 championship.
Despite the 2023 loss, Kerr’s coaching résumé remains legendary. He has led the Warriors to four NBA titles, created one of the most revolutionary offenses in league history, and cemented himself as one of the all-time greats. His career coaching record speaks for itself—a staggering 99-41 playoff record before that Lakers series.
Recently, Kerr made history again by surpassing Al Attles as the all-time winningest coach in Warriors history. In a heartfelt moment, Wilhelmina Attles, the wife of the late Al Attles, presented Kerr with the game ball after the Warriors’ win over the Knicks. Kerr humbly credited the organization’s stability and the greatness of players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson for his success.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Draymond Green believes that Steve Kerr’s leadership goes beyond the court. He credits Kerr for instilling a winning culture, empowering players, and fostering a family-like atmosphere.
Even though the 2023 Lakers series exposed the Warriors’ flaws, it wasn’t a failure of coaching—it was simply a mismatch. Kerr remains one of the greatest minds in basketball, and as long as he’s leading the Warriors, they’ll always be in the conversation for another championship.
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