The head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr returned to the bench in the Game 2 of the NBA Finals to make the team complete. If you have monitored the news closely, there were some indications that it could happen sooner than later, but don’t worry if it surprised you – even the Dubs star Stephen Curry admitted that he found out Kerr was coaching the game when everyone else found out.
Steve Kerr – The Player and the Coach
The naysayers will likely say that his return had very little to do with the Warriors victory as they’ve displayed might even without him running the show, and even Steve Kerr admitted that he is not the architect of this team, generously crediting Marc Jackson for making the Warriors play both sides of the court. But whatever your stance is, some things that Steve Kerr has done during his days in the NBA in various roles cannot be doubted. His serious back issues may force him to retire early, possible even after this series, so it’s as good of a time to take a look at what does he mean to a modern NBA.
Playing days
Steve Kerr considers himself the luckiest man in the history of the NBA, hitching himself to Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan for five championships as a role player and it’s certain a big part of the equation (only 13 players won more). But in order to be put in such position, a player needs to have a quality that contending teams desire. Kerr had more than one, both on the floor and away from it.
First of all, he was deadly from the three-point range. How deadly? His 45.5 percent career shooting from beyond the arc is the best in the NBA history. Yes, three-point shooting wizards we have the privilege to see in this series, like Curry, Thompson and Korver could take a lesson or two from coach Kerr in that regard.
He was also underrated as a floor general because he rarely handled the ball. He played some kind of a shooting point guard of the bench for the most of his playing career – he played 910 regular season games yet started only 30 – but was also of a big help to transfer his coaches instruction to the teammates on the floor. He only had a couple of season of playing very good defense, but was not known for his defensive prowess.
Off the court, Steve Kerr the player was much liked for his humble but light persona. He knew where his place in the NBA was. Even back, his knowledge of the game extended beyond the basketball talents, and was clear that he’s going to continue his NBA adventure past his playing days.
Looking at the game from different perspectives
Kerr took unusual path to the head coach position. Most former players either take assistant coaches roles in the NBA or work in the NCAA. Some jumped to a vacant head coaching position with the big guys, but it was not how things have gone for coach Kerr.
After ending his playing career after winning his fifth title, Steve Kerr worked as a TV analyst for a few years before he was lured to become a General Manager of the Phoenix Suns. He had previously helped Sarver buy the Suns in 2004 and became one of his trusted basketball advisors. He stayed at the position for just a couple of seasons before returning to the reporters’ desk, but both of these positions have helped him see the NBA from different perspectives and to understand how the entire machine runs.
Coaching the Warriors
When the Warriors beat the Rockets in late March, giving Steve Kerr his 200th win in 238 career games as a head coach, he became the fastest coach in any major American sport to reach 200 career wins. This is an incredible achievement considering how many terrific coaching mind have we seen in all Big Four sports. The fact that this number includes some of the wins accumulated under Walton doesn’t take it away, same as it wouldn’t take away the title the Warriors are hoping to win if Brown continued to act as the head coach.
Steve Kerr has become synonymous with the Warriors success. When he first came to Oakland three years ago, he already had all the frames set by his predecessor Mark Jackson. Personally, I disliked the sacking of Jackson, as he did the heavy lifting and crossed swords with some players in an attempt to right the ship, yet never had the chance to pick the laurels. But in retrospect, the damage in the relationships with the players meant that he can’t be the guy anymore. Steve Kerr, with his intelligent, open behavior was quickly endorsed by the players. He became a player’s coach, to the point that he allowed them freedom in both games and practices, only to have his way on the most important things. It ignited them to another level and the Warriors know how to appreciate that. That’s the reason his return was so dearly welcomed by the stars Kerr never was and doesn’t pretend to be back then, nor now.
In fact, he’s very open to advice from his coaching staff, and his mentors. Kerr played under two of the all time greatest coaches, Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich. He clearly learned a trick or three from his coaches, and has also developed a strong relationship with Pop. When he considered whom to add to a vacant head assistant position after Luke Walton departed to become the head coach of the Lakers, Kerr contacted Popovich for his opinion on whether Brown would be a good fit. Yes, the head coach of the them two-time consecutive NBA finalist reached out to what’s supposed to be a rival coach for advice. And he’s the first to admit that he still isn’t on the same level, even with all the accomplishments he has gathered in short coaching career. Even with his team blossomed to an unbeatable machine. Even if his brand of basketball is what almost every teams in the league now tries to replicate. Kerr stays true to himself, and with innocent smile will endorse the good fortune that has put him at all the right places during his time in NBA.
His players understand it the best. They know how Kerr is important for this team and would love to reward his honesty, his work and his demeanor with another title, as they are surely aware that these might be the last games he’ll guide them. But the Warriors took Kerr’s personality as well and would never overlook the opponent. They know what it takes to beat LeBron James and his Cavaliers, so even with the perfect playoff run so far, they are not thinking about making history with another sweep. They would rather stay true to themselves and win Kerr his 7th ring.
