Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has been considered one of the best coaches in the NBA since the Warriors won their first NBA title in nearly 40 years. After winning his third title in four years, though, Kerr will finally be paid like one of the NBA’s best coaches.
Kerr signed with the Warriors in 2014 to a five-year $25 million dollar contract, which raised more than a few eyebrows considering that he had never been an NBA head coach. Four seasons later, with three championships under his belt, it’s safe to say that Kerr has more than outperformed his contract.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that Kerr will sign a contract extension that will make him one of the NBA’s highest-paid coaches.
Three-time NBA championship coach Steve Kerr is finalizing a contract extension that will make him one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2018
Considering that the Warriors are officially a dynasty and Kerr’s contract was set to run out at the end of the 2018-2019 NBA season, ownership must want the title party to keep going.
There are those who believe that Kerr’s extension and to a lesser extent his job is relatively easy considering that he’s coaching four All-Stars in their prime. As Kerith Burke, Warriors Sideline reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area points out, the culture that Kerr has cultivated has allowed guys like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and to a lesser extent Draymond Green be themselves.
Regarding Steve Kerr's extension, sometimes I hear the notion "anyone could coach four All-Stars" but don't underestimate the culture Kerr brought, how the players are free to be themselves, and his experience at every level. Kerr deserves his slice of the credit for success.
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) June 29, 2018
Without that culture, it’s a legitimate question about how many titles the Warriors would have won or if the possibility of signing Kevin Durant two years after Kerr’s arrival is even possible. His work in installing Golden State’s offense before the Warriors developed into their current form was also a significant part of growing Golden State into a dynasty.
Kerr’s resume as both a player and a coach are nearly beyond reproach as the former Arizona Wildcat now has contributed to eight NBA rings. He’s won five as a player, where he won three with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990’s and two more with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 and 2003.
