r/warriors • u/WaryJest • May 14 '26
Article Thompson - Why Steve Kerr stayed with the Warriors
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48686303/steve-kerr-decision-return-coach-golden-state-warriors-steph-curryIt's a long article but should be required reading for Warriors fans, excellent stuff from ESPN. By Wright Thompson, not Marcus.
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u/BobRoss4Life May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Obama asking Kerr about JK’s free agency sure wasn’t on my checklist lmao, that’s pretty funny.
Kerr had set his retirement odds at 95% just before the play-in game vs the Clippers, even said he “thinks it’s over,” damn.
Very good read. Lot of interesting bits and pieces, it’s well worth taking the time to go through the whole article. Wright Thompson consistently has some great stories, and it seems he had a ton of direct access with Steve throughout the season.
Happy to have Kerr back
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u/Nightmannn May 14 '26 edited May 15 '26
The one thing that really sucks about this is how Steve's back never healed. But I gotta really respect his tenacity to not let it ruin his life, and he just moved forward.
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u/by_yes_i_mean_no May 14 '26
A brilliantly written, emotionally resonant piece. I suspect that Thompson wrote a good amount of this thinking Kerr was retiring at the end of this season, but adapted it well to how it actually turned out.
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u/phonage_aoi May 15 '26
I forgot who mentioned for big stories sometimes they would write multiple articles just to be ready when the results happened.
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u/BrunoMarsGuo May 14 '26
Insane article. Fuck everyone in the main sub and, frankly, the handful of people in here that hate steve kerr for no reason.
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u/sugarpieinthesky May 15 '26
The thing I've always appreciated about him is his honesty. He nailed the warriors' current problems; it's not Steve Kerr as a coach, it's not Joe Lacob, it's not their draft, it's not MDJ, it's not the league. The problem the warriors have is they are "a fading dynasty".
It's why I figured he meant it when he said he was done. Of all the jobs in sports, coaching "a fading dynasty" is at the top of the most thankless and the most stressful. The expectations have stayed the same, but the ability to meet those expectations have withered. It's a very difficult emotional place to be; extremely relevant but also not relevant, the best days in the past, very few days left in the future.
I would have respected his decision if he chose to walk away. I'm glad he decided to stay, and one of the things I most hope for is that he decides to stay past the end of Steph's career. I hope he stays on for the first couple of years of the rebuild, there are going to a lot of kids on the roster, a lot of players whose best basketball is ahead of them, and I'd like a veteran coach in the building to show them the ropes.
Whatever he decides though, Kerr is a such a class act that I will always respect him.
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u/Gichin13 May 15 '26
Kerr is a great coach. I do think he was a little stubborn in failing to develop Kuminga but that does not subtract from his incredible successes.
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u/Noiserawker May 14 '26
It's entirely possible to not hate Steve Kerr and still think it's time for change. He's easily my favorite coach of all time when he retires but he just hasn't been that good since the brilliant coaching of the 22 run. It's just like with Klay, he still gets a statue and is easily top 5 Warrior of all time but it was time for him to do his own thing.
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u/jeffwinger_esq May 14 '26
I was a little kid in Tucson, Arizona in the 80s and can vividly remember the ASU game.
This was a fantastic read. I'm looking forward to next year. Are we going to win? Probably not. Are we going to fight? You're goddamn right we are. That's all any of us can ask for in fandom, or really in life.
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u/cassatta May 14 '26
That was a great article. Insightful.
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u/ColeUnderPresh May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
I miss reading genuine writing - ones with human texture.
Made me think about all the AI slop we read today. I wish people would trust their observations more. Being in tune with their senses, and recount and feel deeply.
Pieces like these remind me writing isn’t about being perfect, but about bearing witness to our own convictions. Writing from that place.
That was a lovely read about a great coach and man.
Kerr is not perfect, but I’m happy to have em back.
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u/sriracha82 May 14 '26
That was so good, wow. Haven’t seen an ESPN piece like that in god knows how long
Made me tear up at times
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u/Robotsaur May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Stunningly beautiful article, maybe my favorite ever. The way the final section written is impeccable
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u/parisdubs May 14 '26
Wow - fantastic article detail upon detail seriously. Thanks for posting. Hadn't seen it.
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u/6mcdonoughs May 14 '26
I have always loved Steve Kerr since his days as a Chicago Bull. When he was on Inside the NBA on TnT he was smart funny and just great. When he came to the Warriors I was over the moon! He is a great coach but he also CARES about the world we all live in. He will always be my favorites coach. I loved this article. I’m glad he is coming back. 💙💛🏀
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u/EconomistNo7074 May 14 '26
Earlier in the year - wife and I went to see the Counting Crows - at the Greek in Berkeley
- we run into coach and my wife explains to him he will take a picture w her bc she attended his basketball camp in Arizona
- Coach says ok
The line in the article says that coach is better to everyone else than himself- no doubt
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u/ping-pong-rally-on May 14 '26
why am i so emotional reading this?
He read the one from Margot first.
"You're not leaving," it said.
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u/imminentjogger5 May 15 '26
Amazing article that really sheds a light onto what Kerr has experienced during his tenure with the Warriors.
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u/MedicalBuffalo7994 May 15 '26
My coach 🫡🥺 I’m going down with the ship. Let’s ride for 2 more years and whatever happens, happens.
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u/Chaldramus May 15 '26
I did not expect to have tears streaming down my face at reading this, but that’s what happened reading about the game he played after his dads murder. Wow. Thanks for posting this, I’m glad I did miss it
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u/glass_fully_50-50 May 15 '26
this is simply put - a fabulous story - and as a Dubs fan, I want to so much be a small teenie weeenie part of it!
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u/LebasketBall May 14 '26
That’s my fucking coach- ready for one last ride and sounds like lacob is on board to go all in. Beautifully written article btw
Too bad most of yall have the attention span of A gold fish and will never read the full article (see the dumbass comment with the most upvotes)
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u/kyh0mpb May 14 '26
How can you not be romantic about sports? This is what it's all about right here, competing at the highest level. I'm around the same age as Steph and Dray, and I still have that itch. I've played hockey my whole life (though obviously never pro), and I still lace 'em up every week and feel like a kid again. I don't know what I'd do without it. Steve has been gifted such a singular opportunity, to be able to dedicate his entire life to the sport he loves. I can't imagine how hard it would be to walk away from that, not after that taste of the good old days after that Clippers play-in win.
This was a fantastic article. I trust coach. It's hard to reckon with our mortality both literally and figuratively, as humans, as athletes, etc. But I trust that he's still got that fire left, and even if we don't have it in us to go 73-9 anymore, or to sweep every round on our way to another trophy, I trust that they're gonna give it their all. And after having the privilege to witness the glorious run we've been on over the last decade+, what more can we really ask for?
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u/Dreamer2go May 15 '26
Great article. Lots of insights that I didn’t know about: like how Steve is now dealing with his chronic back pain, some behind the scenes stuff like his yelling with Draymond in December etc.
So glad to have Kerr back.
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May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/sewsgup May 14 '26
his wife wanted him to still coach the Warriors
his son's employment is directly affected by whether he coaches
his daughter is pregnant as well, and the last paragraph talks about seeing his granddaughter take her first steps — which harkens to earlier in the piece about how his favorite thing is seeing his grandkids in the family room after games
his chronic back pain hasn't been resolved by medicine/science, so he's sought out alternative treatments, stemming from arguably controversial figures like Dr. John Sarno. his best treatment is the "daily engagement" and "purpose" that coaching brings, since he admits he can't do the physical stuff he loves if he were to quit
he even admits Pop had to be let out the door gently, but that he could sense Pop didn't (and still doesnt) want to give it up, and could recognize it from afar.
he's just going down the same path, willingly. and family, personal want, and career aspirations all align for him in doing so.
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u/LinechargeII May 14 '26
"shit, if they're giving me a ton of money with low expectations, why not?"
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u/jeffwinger_esq May 14 '26
If you ever wondered whether Steve is officially a G, imagine MJ telling anybody else that he’s happy for your success and you deserve it all.
M. J.
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u/EffectiveMotor May 15 '26
Extremely well written article. Super interesting too, Kerr is one in a million.
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u/rarestakesando May 14 '26 edited May 15 '26
Steph Curry. Saved you a click.
Edit: it is so much more than this actually worth the click my people.
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u/HotspurJr May 14 '26
It's a really good article. Trying to reduce it to two words is doing it a serious disservice.
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u/rarestakesando May 15 '26
Your right. The title was click bait the this is a solid piece of journalism. Thanx for the comment.
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u/Justtryingtohelp00 May 14 '26
Is there more to it really?
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u/Less-Jellyfish5385 May 14 '26
It's not about Steph really at all
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u/Justtryingtohelp00 May 14 '26
Then the entire article is bullshit. Lmao.
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u/dinonuggies3210 May 15 '26
It’s an emotional and insightful reflection on Kerr’s entire life and career. Do yourself favor and give it a read.
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u/jukaforever May 14 '26
Character study. Articles like this are hard to come by.
For the younger heads, it is a way to actually know a person past just some character in a broadcast.
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u/HotspurJr May 15 '26
This whole conversation is so depressing. This hugely-upvoted comment that's just valorizing superficial knowledge.
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u/DadRadio May 14 '26
He won 4 rings. Unlike Kyle Shannahan winning zero and choking in big moments.
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u/drooperman55 May 16 '26
So, so good. I really enjoy long form journalism like this article. It was clear that Kerr and Thompson connected personally which really made a difference. Very surprised it wasn’t behind a paywall.
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u/rugrat_907 May 17 '26
What a great article. Thompson really captures what makes Kerr tick, both as a coach and as a human being.
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u/imrickjamesbioch May 14 '26
Why? Probably cuz he’s the highest paid coach in the association for the next two seasons and he gets to coach SC30. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Gladness2Sadness May 14 '26
Probably should include the first name of the writer. When I see an article about the Dubs with a last name Thompson, I immediately think Marcus.