Steve Kerr isn’t shy about giving credit where it’s due, and in his mind, there’s one reason he’s still coaching the Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry. Speaking on ‘The Glue Guys’ podcast, the four-time championship coach admitted that Curry’s presence has been the defining factor in his decade-long run with the franchise, saying that without him, his career would have taken a very different path.
“I’m well aware that the reason I’m still here is because Steph Curry is still here,” Kerr said. “I’m not being modest, I’m just telling the truth. If I didn’t have Steph, I would have been like every other NBA coach and lasted a few years, and then gone somewhere else and coached somewhere else.”
Steve Kerr was hired as the Warriors’ head coach in 2014, succeeding Mark Jackson. While he had experience as a player and in the media, Kerr had a limited history of professional coaching, and there was much uncertainty about his fit for the job. Any doubts were quickly dashed, however, when Curry’s rise to stardom created a dynasty in Golden State.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have this partnership with Steph,” Kerr said. “He provides this stability and continuity with the organization that just makes everybody’s job easier.”
Coaches are often the first ones to take the fall after a failed or disappointing season. Sometimes, even after exceeding expectations, coaches will be let go for whatever reason the front office can find. Today, NBA coaches have almost no job security, even those who are considered the best.
In the case of Steve Kerr, his coaching tenure has been an outlier. For nearly a decade, he’s been able to operate without any concerns about being fired. While he can take some credit for his success, it’s really Steph Curry who has created such stability in the organization.
As a 2x MVP, 4x champion, and the greatest shooter in NBA history, Steph’s greatness has changed everything in Golden State. Over the past 16 years, he’s operated with total impunity, averaging 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 39.7% shooting.
The results have been nothing short of amazing for the Warriors, who went from total irrelevance to being one of the league’s most valuable teams. Thanks to Curry’s impact, the Warriors are worth over $9.1 billion and have built a lasting legacy in the NBA.
Going into next season, Curry has a chance to further enhance his legacy by leading the Warriors to yet another title. Even at 37 years old, he’s expected to be among the game’s top performers next season. That should be enough for the Warriors to keep up with the best in the West.
For Kerr, every year with Curry has been a gift and a reminder of how rare such a partnership is in the NBA. As long as the Warriors’ franchise cornerstone is on the floor, Kerr’s seat on the sidelines will remain one of the most secure in the league. And if they can capture one more title together, it will only cement their place as one of the greatest player-coach duos in basketball history.
