Bob Myers’ exit from Golden State wasn’t just about basketball decisions. It was about the weight of making them on players he helped build the Warriors around.
On a recent podcast with NBA Hall of Famers Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, the former Warriors general manager and president of basketball operations opened up about why leaving the franchise mattered so much on a personal level. Myers said the bond he formed with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson made certain choices feel different than the usual front-office grind.
“Had I stayed in Golden State, it might have (become personal). Like if I had to move off of Klay (Thompson), I might have had a hard time with that. If I had been there and I had to do something with Draymond (Green) or Steph (Curry) or something like that, that would have been personal because of what we went through together.”
He added, “When you win multiple championships with people that played and gave everything and changed my life personally, not the organization's, mine, how can I not let that affect me?”
Myers began as Golden State’s general manager in April of 2012 and later became president of basketball operations. He stayed through the end of the 2022-23 season before stepping away from the franchise.
His run in Golden State helped shape one of the NBA’s defining teams. Myers drafted the core of Curry, Green and Thompson, and during his time with the Warriors, the franchise won four NBA championships and six Western Conference titles.
After Myers left, Thompson eventually moved on to the Dallas Mavericks. Curry, Green and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr have remained together since then, even as they near the end of their respective careers.
Myers has since taken a role with the Philadelphia 76ers this spring.
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