A Warriors Mentality

Steve Kerr Takes His Shot, Chooses to Begin His NBA Coaching Career at Golden State 

When Steve Kerr spoke at the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce’s General Membership Breakfast in November he hinted that he would be interested in coaching if the right situation came along.

That premonition became a reality last Wednesday when the 1983 Palisades High  graduate accepted a five-year, $25 million offer to become head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. It’s no coincidence that a player known most for sinking clutch baskets with the game on the line is making his coaching debut with a contender. In fact, that’s one reason why Kerr passed up an offer from the New York Knicks in favor of the job in Oakland.

“I knew after I left as general manager in Phoenix that I wanted to coach and this was a combination of the Warriors having a good young roster and geographically being close enough for me to maintain the balance between family and career,” Kerr told the Palisadian-Post. “The Knicks’ offer was incredibly flattering and I was pretty close to taking it. The only other job I was interested in was Golden State. I wasn’t dragging it out on purpose for leverage. I spent three straight weeks on the road with TNT and my wife and I talked numerous times. I just think this was a better fit.”

Family has always been the foundation in Kerr’s life and what tipped the scales in favor of Golden State was the franchise’s proximity to UC Berkeley, where his daughter Maddy plays volleyball, and to San Diego, where his older son Nick is a basketball player at the University of San Diego and his younger son Matthew will be a junior in high school next year. He also knows the people he’ll be working with at Golden State.

“I’m familiar with all of them.” Kerr said. “I’ve known [GM] Bob Myers for a long time because he was an agent when I was a GM and [owner] Joe Lacob has been an acquaintance for 15 years.”

Kerr grew up on Chautauqua, played in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association, attended Paul Revere Middle School and played basketball under Jerry Marvin at PaliHi. After a stellar collegiate career at the University of Arizona, Kerr won five titles (three with Chicago, two with San Antonio) in 15 seasons in the NBA before becoming an analyst for TNT. He spent three seasons as general manager of the Phoenix Suns and then returned to broadcasting.

Although he lacks previous coaching experience, Kerr has learned from some of the best in the game: Lute Olsen at Arizona and Lenny Wilkens, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich in the NBA.

“I’ve been in the NBA for 26 years now,” Kerr said. “I’ve been around the game, I’ve visited with coaches before telecasts, I’ve picked their brains and I’ve got a lot to offer. I’ve learned from some of the best coaches, Hall of Famers who taught me a lot both on and off the floor.”

With several NBA coaching positions available, Kerr chose to be selective.

“I didn’t get contacted by the [Los Angeles] Lakers, but I said I’m not going to consider it anyway, not now,” Kerr confirmed.

Kerr, 48, replaces another former NBA player, Mark Jackson, who was fired May 6 after the Warriors’ first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Kerr was introduced as head coach during a news conference Tuesday at the team’s practice facility.

“I like being part of a team,” Kerr said of his new challenge. “There’s nothing like the feeling of a young team coming together and this is group full of youth and talent. Guys like Stephen Curry, Jordan Crawford and  Klay Thompson are exciting to watch. I don’t care how good a coach you are, you need players.”

CAREER CAPSULE | Steve Kerr

1983: Graduated Palisades High

1983-88: University of Arizona

1988: Drafted in 2nd Rd (50th overall) by Phoenix Suns

1988-89: Phoenix Suns

1989-92: Cleveland Cavaliers

1992-93: Orlando Magic

1993-98: Chicago Bulls (Won three NBA titles)

1997: NBA Three-Point Champion

1998-01: San Antonio Spurs (Won NBA title)

2001-02: Portland Trail Blazers

2002-03: San Antonio Spurs (Won NBA title)

2003-07: Color Analyst, TNT

2007-10: General Manager, Phoenix Suns

2010-14: Color Analyst, TNT

2014: Head Coach, Golden State Warriors