Steve Kerr has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract to remain head coach of the Golden State Warriors, following his 12-season tenure with the franchise. The news comes from ESPN and The Athletic.
According to the reports, Kerr, who earned $17.5 million this season, will continue to be the highest-paid coach in the NBA on an annual basis. His previous contract expired this offseason.
The 60-year-old coach had been in discussions with Warriors controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy for two weeks to finalize the terms. ESPN noted that financial considerations were secondary to making the best basketball decisions during those talks.
Since taking over in the 2014-15 season, Kerr has led the Warriors to four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022). He holds a regular-season record of 604-353 (.631) and a playoff mark of 104-48 (.684).
However, Golden State missed the playoffs this season after losing a play-in game to the Phoenix Suns. It marks the second time in three seasons the team failed to reach the postseason. The Warriors also finished 37-45, only the second time under Kerr they have been below .500.
Kerr acknowledged that the 111-96 loss to the Suns on April 17 could have been his final game as a coach. “I still love coaching, but I get it,” he told reporters. “These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
Kerr had previously stated that if he coaches next season, it will be with superstar guard Stephen Curry and the Warriors. “That’s part of the equation,” he said. “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”
Before leading the Warriors to their first NBA title in 40 years in 2015, Kerr won five championships as a player with the Chicago Bulls (1996-98) and San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003).
