Steve Kerr will coach the Golden State Warriors for two more years

Steve Kerr will continue to lead the Golden State Warriors. After three weeks of negotiations and reflection on his future, the American coach reached an agreement to renew for two more seasons and will remain in charge of the California franchise at least until his thirteenth year on the bench.

According to various league sources, the new contract will keep Kerr as the highest-paid coach in the NBA on an annual basis. Last season, he earned 17.5 million dollars, and discussions with the management intensified over the last two weeks.

The coach held several meetings with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, where they analyzed everything from the team's offensive philosophy to the future of the roster and the overall direction of the franchise. Beyond the financial aspect, Golden State wanted to ensure that Kerr remained the right person to lead the next stage of the project.

“It was never about the money,” said a source within the organization. “We had to make the best sporting decision.”

Although within the franchise it was practically taken for granted since the beginning of the week that Kerr would return, the final details of the agreement were settled between Friday night and Saturday morning. This way, the coach will continue to guide the Warriors in what could be the final stretch of the Stephen Curry era.

However, Kerr's continuity was not guaranteed just a few months ago. The coach had hinted during October's training camp that he would not seek an immediate contract extension and preferred to wait until the end of the season to decide his future.

Golden State closed a disappointing season marked by injuries with a record of 37 wins and 45 losses, finishing in the tenth position in the West and being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament. The team's inconsistency opened up the debate on whether both parties needed a change of direction.

“I still love coaching, but I understand how this works,” Kerr commented after the elimination. “These jobs have expiration dates. There are cycles, and when they end, sometimes new ideas and voices are needed.”

The front office even discreetly explored potential replacements in case of Kerr's departure, although the key figures of the franchise never wanted to sever the relationship. Both Lacob and Dunleavy, along with Curry himself, maintained constant conversations with Kerr during the process.

“I want the coach to be happy,” stated Curry after the elimination. “I want him to be excited about the job and to feel that he is still the right person for the position. He knows perfectly well what I think of him.”

Kerr arrived at Golden State in May 2014 in a decision that initially raised doubts both inside and outside the organization. His predecessor, Mark Jackson, had strong support in the locker room, including Curry himself, who was beginning to emerge as a superstar after a 51-win season.

However, the franchise opted for a change in offensive style and leadership. Kerr, who also considered taking on the coaching position for the New York Knicks that summer, ended up accepting the challenge in San Francisco.

The impact was immediate. In his first season as head coach at any level, the Warriors won 67 games, had the best defense in the NBA, and secured the franchise's first championship in 40 years. Curry was named MVP, and Golden State began one of the most dominant dynasties of the modern era.

A year later, the Warriors set the historic record of 73 regular-season wins, and Curry became the first unanimous MVP in history. Although they lost that Finals to Cleveland, the arrival of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016 took the team to another level.

With Kerr at the helm, Golden State won the titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, also reaching six NBA Finals. As a player, the coach also won five rings with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Legacy of Steve Kerr

Nevertheless, his legacy is already among the most significant in the league's history. This past season, he became the fourth-fastest coach to reach 600 wins, needing just 943 games. Only Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Gregg Popovich achieved it in fewer games.

Now, with Kerr confirmed and Curry still under contract—although it is expected that both parties will negotiate an extension this summer—the franchise focuses on rebuilding a competitive roster. Golden State will approach the draft and free agency with the intention of strengthening the team and returning to contention for the top spots in an increasingly demanding Western Conference.

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