Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is weighing his options following the team's abrupt exit from the postseason. The four‑time NBA champion coach hinted on Friday night that he might step away after the Warriors fell 111-96 to the Phoenix Suns in the play‑in tournament, a loss that sealed the Suns' final Western Conference playoff berth and set them up against top‑seed Oklahoma City. The defeat marked a disappointing close to a campaign that saw Stephen Curry, now 38, finish with just 17 points. In the final moments of the game, Kerr shared a brief, emotional hug with Curry and Draymond Green—two of the franchise's core players who have been with Kerr through multiple title runs.
Observers noted that Kerr appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to his stars, though he declined to reveal the exact words, joking, "None of your business," with a smile. Both Curry and Green made it clear that they would like Kerr to remain at the helm. Curry said, "I want the coach to be happy, I want him excited about the job.
He knows how I feel about him, that shouldn't even need to be said." Green echoed the sentiment, admitting, "I just don't deal with change well, I don't love it. So, I don't want to think about that.
I hope that's not the case but we'll see what happens." Kerr, now 60, is concluding his 12th season with Golden State. Over that span he has compiled a 604‑353 record, guided the Warriors to the NBA Finals in each of his first five years and added another appearance later, and even led USA Basketball to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His current contract is set to expire at the end of this season, adding another layer of speculation about his next move. The coach said he will soon sit down with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to discuss the franchise's direction.
"We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason," Kerr explained. "And we will come to a collaborative decision on what's next. I don't know what's going to happen.
I still love coaching but I get it, these jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that. If that's the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole group." While Kerr contemplates his future, the NBA Play‑In Tournament continued elsewhere.
Paolo Banchero poured in 25 points as the Orlando Magic dispatched the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, securing the eighth seed in the playoffs. Banchero added five rebounds and six assists, while Franz Wagner contributed 18 points and a solid rebounding effort.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball led with 23 points, but it was insufficient to break a ten‑year playoff drought. The 2026 NBA playoffs kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with four live games on Sky Sports Action beginning at 6 p.m. British Summer Time.
The schedule is as follows: - 6 p.m.: Philadelphia 76ers (7) @ Boston Celtics (2) - 8:30 p.m.: Phoenix Suns (8) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (1) - 11 p.m.: Orlando Magic (8) @ Detroit Pistons (1) - 2 a.m.: Portland Trail Blazers (7) @ San Antonio Spurs (2) Sky Sports will also broadcast all Western Conference Finals games live from May 20 onward. The match‑ups for the conference finals are: - Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Phoenix Suns (8) - San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Portland Trail Blazers (7) - Denver Nuggets (3) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (6) - Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs Houston Rockets (5) - Detroit Pistons (1) vs Orlando Magic (8) - Boston Celtics (2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (7) - New York Knicks (3) vs Atlanta Hawks (6) - Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs Toronto Raptors (5) Fans can watch the entire 2026 NBA postseason on Sky Sports, either through a traditional subscription or via the contract‑free streaming option on NOW. The league's schedule, broadcast details, and any updates on Kerr's status will continue to be closely followed by analysts and supporters alike, as the Warriors consider whether to retain the architect of their recent dynasty or embark on a new chapter with fresh leadership.