The comments Steve Kerr made today about Rockets GM Daryl Morey publicly petitioning for James Harden to win this year’s MVP award, reminded us all-star pandering. Teams sending out little packets of swag to convince coaches their guy should get a reserve nod once the starters have been named by the fans. Gregg Popovich hated the practice, and we’re guessing Western Conference All-Star coach, Kerr, felt the same way (they are wine buddies). Perhaps Steve Kerr scoffing at Morey’s buffing the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for James Harden came from the same place.
Kerr on not pushing MVP: "If Daryl Morey wants to run his own 1 man campaign for James Harden he can do that. We're focused on other stuff."
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) March 5, 2015
And yeah, Kerr brought it up.
Since some have asked, I didn't bring up Morey, Harden or the Rockets to Kerr. He brought that up
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) March 5, 2015
Kerr also said after practice that he cares about Steph winning the MVP, it’s just not his job to push for that.
“I’d like for Steph to win the MVP and I think he deserves it. But I don’t think it’s our job to promote it. We’re trying to win games. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Something important to remember: Kerr is the coach of the Dubs and Morey is the general manager of the Rockets. While MVP marketing isn’t normally in the job description of a GM, he’s not instructing his players on the court, or calling plays from the sideline. Then again, his unctuous need to prop up his own guys — specifically Harden, who can make his case for an MVP all on his own — can be a little grating (e.g. the All-Star gift package, when it was already clear Harden was making the team as reserve).
Both Steph and James are MVP candidates this year, and we don’t need anyone in the front office, or on the bench, to tell us otherwise. Kerr’s understanding of this relatively basic principle is why he’s rapidly becoming our favorite coach in the NBA.
