Steve Kerr is keeping it real about life in the NBA. Speaking on the Warriors’ team dynamic, the head coach admitted that fights are a normal part of the season and said Golden State usually has a few every year.
“There’s usually 2-3 fights a year on our team in basketball,” said Kerr in a chat on Aleda Collective. “It’s not like the normal rules of society, you can’t go into work in the office and punch somebody. But in basketball, you can kind of do that, and it’s okay after.”
Kerr didn’t reveal which players are typically involved in these fights, but it didn’t take fans long to guess it might be Draymond Green, who has a long history of aggressive plays.
Unlike other jobs, basketball is a physical activity that involves working with teammates. The grind of the season, combined with the intensity of the games, can lead to some hot emotions that boil over in the locker room. While players tend to avoid altercations against their own allies, Kerr says it’s unavoidable when you’re in this type of competitive environment.
During his playing days with the Bulls, Kerr experienced this first-hand with NBA legend Michael Jordan. During the height of their run together, Kerr and Jordan rubbed shoulders several times, and it even led to Kerr getting punched in the face on one occasion.
Instead of the experience hindering their relationship, Kerr said it actually made them closer. He called it a “test” from Michael, which revealed his heart and passion for the game. It allowed them to establish a competitive spirit, which set the tone for their success. Of course, times have changed a lot since the 90s, and while fighting may have been normal then, it’s not so much now.
As coach of the Warriors, Kerr hasn’t been directly involved in fist fights, but he was forced to respond after an altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole leaked to the public. Green allegedly knocked out Poole for crossing the line with trash talk, and it forever altered their relationship.
Poole slowly lost his role on the team while Green went on to suffer disciplinary action. That incident ruined the chemistry of that Warriors team, and they were left with no choice but to trade Poole in favor of someone who fit the culture.
In a series of trades, they eventually settled on Jimmy Butler, and the results have been promising so far. The Warriors are 23-7 since Butler joined, and they have major title aspirations with him returning to the fold next season. If the Warriors can just avoid any drama, they should be in play for a potential title run, and Curry has set expectations high.
For Kerr, a little conflict comes with the territory, but what matters is how a team responds. The Warriors have shown they can survive turbulence before, and with Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry leading the way, they have the talent and leadership to turn intensity into championships rather than chaos.
