The Golden State Warriors are dealing with some pretty big questions this season, and the latest one might be the most important: Is Steve Kerr coming back?
According to a new report, multiple assistant coaches on the Warriors staff are already assuming Kerr won’t be back next season. They’re reportedly looking around the league for new jobs, which tells you a lot about what people inside the organization think is coming.
That’s a big deal.
Kerr’s in the final year of his contract. He hasn’t signed a new deal, and he’s been pretty quiet publicly about what he’s planning to do after this season wraps up.
The fact that his own assistant coaches are preparing for life after Kerr? That suggests the uncertainty isn’t just media speculation or fan gossip. It’s real, and it’s happening inside the Warriors’ walls.
A Really Tough Season
This news comes during what’s been a challenging year for Golden State. They lost Jimmy Butler for the entire season to a torn ACL, taking away a key scorer and leader.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are still playing really well. But let’s be honest – both are in the later stages of their careers.
The Warriors sit at 25-20 right now. They’re still hoping to move up in the Western Conference standings, but these questions about Kerr’s future make everything more complicated.
A lot of people expected Kerr to stick around as long as Curry and Green were still playing at a high level. Now that plan might be changing.
And Kerr’s legacy is already set. In 11 seasons with the Warriors, he’s posted a 592-328 record and won four NBA championships. Under his leadership, Golden State became a dynasty and completely changed how modern basketball is played with their shooting and ball movement.
Reading the Tea Leaves
When your assistant coaches start job hunting, that’s usually a sign something’s up.
Some staff members have already begun exploring openings around the league for next season. That doesn’t necessarily mean Kerr’s definitely leaving, but it shows that the people who work with him every day are preparing for a transition.
There’s already been one notable departure. Longtime assistant Chris DeMarco left to become head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
That move might reflect deeper changes happening within the staff. Or maybe it’s a canary-in-a-coal-mine situation about the stability – or lack of it – on Kerr’s bench.
What Happens Now
Golden State’s got a crucial stretch coming up before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The front office needs to figure out trades and rotations, and Kerr’s future has to factor into those decisions.
If Kerr doesn’t return, the team needs to prepare for a completely new voice and potentially a whole new direction.
Whether he stays or walks away, Kerr’s already cemented his place as one of the most influential NBA coaches of the 21st century. But for Warriors fans, that legacy doesn’t make the uncertainty any easier to deal with right now.
