Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is weighing his options as the franchise’s season drew to a close on Friday night. After a 111-96 defeat to the Phoenix Suns in the play‑in game, the Warriors’ bid for a postseason berth was extinguished, and the loss sparked speculation about Kerr’s next move. The Suns, who secured the final Western Conference slot, will now face top‑seeded Oklahoma City in the first round.
In the losing effort, Stephen Curry, now 38, contributed 17 points, a modest tally that underscored the team’s broader struggles throughout a campaign that fell short of expectations. After the final buzzer, Kerr addressed the media with a cryptic remark: “It might still go on.
It may not.” The comment left fans and analysts pondering whether the coach intends to return for another season or step away from the bench. Kerr then shared a heartfelt embrace with Curry and Draymond Green—two players who have been the backbone of the Warriors’ championship runs under his guidance. Observers noted that Kerr appeared to whisper a quiet “thank you” in the exchange, though he declined to confirm what was said, smiling and replying, “None of your business.” Both Curry and Green made it clear they would like to see Kerr remain.
Curry said, “I want the coach to be happy, I want him to be 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.” Their comments highlight the deep personal connections forged over the years, yet the decision ultimately rests with the organization and Kerr himself. Kerr, now 60, completed his 12th season with Golden State, compiling a 604‑353 record.
He guided the Warriors to the NBA Finals in each of his first five years, added another Finals appearance later, and even led Team USA to an Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games. His contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing speculation. The coach indicated that 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 said.
“We will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” He added that while he still loves coaching, he recognizes that “these jobs all have an expiration date,” and that sometimes a fresh perspective is needed when a successful run concludes. In a broader NBA context, the play‑in tournament continued with the Orlando Magic defeating the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90, securing the eighth seed. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 25 points, while Franz Wagner added 18.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball’s 23 points were not enough to keep the franchise’s decade‑long playoff drought at bay. The 2026 NBA playoffs kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, featuring four live games on Sky Sports Action beginning at 6 p.m. British Summer Time.
The schedule is as follows: - 6:00 p.m.: Philadelphia 76ers (7) @ Boston Celtics (2) - 8:30 p.m.: Phoenix Suns (8) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (1) - 11:00 p.m.: Orlando Magic (8) @ Detroit Pistons (1) - 2:00 a.m.: Portland Trail Blazers (7) @ San Antonio Spurs (2) All Western Conference Finals will be broadcast live from May 20 onward, with match‑ups listed below (home‑court advantage shown first): - 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 action live on Sky Sports or stream without a contract via the NOW platform.
As the Warriors contemplate their next chapter, the NBA community will be watching closely to see whether Kerr’s tenure will extend for another season or if the franchise will embark on a new coaching era. The outcome will shape not only Golden State’s future but also the broader narrative of one of the most successful coaching careers in recent basketball history.