Steve Kerr didn’t sound like a coach who had every detail mapped out when last season ended. In fact, the Warriors boss made it clear there was a real stretch when he wasn’t convinced he’d be back in Golden State at all.
“I wasn’t sure if I was the right person or if they wanted me back frankly, because we’re in this weird spot where we won a title in ‘22, we’ve been really competitive the last couple years, but we’re clearly in transition. Our best players are older,” Kerr said. “Last year was a difficult season, 37-45, very disappointing.There was part of me that felt like maybe it was time for a new voice, and maybe for them too.”
That uncertainty eventually gave way to a new deal, and Kerr pointed to the long-running trust between himself and the organization as the thing that made it all make sense in the end.
“I think that’s kind of the reason I’m back too. We have such a great relationship between front office and management and coaching staff, players,” Kerr continued. “So it just became an easy decision once everything clarified.”
Kerr signed a two-year contract extension after the Warriors had already been knocked out of the play-in. He has been their coach since the 2014-15 season, and his debut year brought a championship right away.
From there came five straight trips to the NBA Finals and three titles. Over his 12 seasons as head coach, Golden State has reached the playoffs eight times.
In Other News...
Warriors Suddenly Have A Yaxel Lendeborg Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Yaxel Lendeborgs preseason night against the Lakers came with a scare when he turned his ankle, a jolt the Warriors could have done without as they continue sorting out their rotation. He did return briefly, and afterward he said the injury was not severe and sounded optimistic about where things stood, which at least offered some immediate relief for a team already trying to get its roster into shape before the regular season.
Still, any issue involving a player under consideration to start is worth watching closely at this point in camp, especially with Golden State also managing other injuries across the roster. The Warriors need these final preseason reps to help clarify roles, and Lendeborgs status will be part of that picture until the team gets a better sense of how he responds in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
The Warriors trimmed their roster by waiving guard Miles Kelly and bringing in forward Tyler Burton, a move that comes after Kelly had turned in a strong preseason and looked like he had at least made his case. Golden State announced the transaction in an official team statement, signaling another round of roster shuffling as the club continues sorting out its options before the season settles in.
Burton arrives with some NBA experience after previously spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies on 10-day contracts, and he now gets his own chance to compete for a spot in mid-October. For a team still fine-tuning the edges of the roster, the call says as much about fit and opportunity as it does about performance, which is why this one figures to draw plenty of debate from fans who were hoping Kellys preseason would carry more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors May Have A New Rookie Dilemma After Lakers Scare
A preseason scare in Los Angeles briefly put the Warriors on edge when rookie Yaxel Lendeborg appeared to twist his left ankle, only to head back into the game after a quick evaluation. The moment served as a reminder of how much Golden State has already leaned on the first-round pick, who has been one of the more steady presences in camp and is quickly looking like more than just a developmental piece.
Lendeborgs response was the kind of answer teams like to see in October, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 26 minutes. For a player selected No. 11 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, the bigger question now is less about whether he belongs and more about how the Warriors manage his growing preseason role as the games start to matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]