Steve Kerr, the long‑time 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 may step away from his role after the Warriors fell 111-96 to the Phoenix Suns in the play‑in tournament, a loss that extinguished any remaining hopes of a playoff berth. The Suns seized the final Western Conference spot and will now face top‑seed Oklahoma City in the opening round.
Veteran point guard Stephen Curry, now 38, contributed 17 points in what turned out to be a somber final game of a season that fell short of expectations. After the final buzzer, Kerr embraced Curry and fellow veteran Draymond Green—both of whom have been mainstays throughout the Warriors' championship runs under Kerr's leadership.
In the brief exchange, Kerr appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to his two star players, though he declined to reveal the exact words, smiling and saying, "None of your business." Both Curry and Green have been vocal about wanting Kerr to stay, but the coach's future has been a topic of speculation for months, especially as this year marks the last year of his current contract. "I want the coach to be happy and excited about the job," Curry said, adding that his respect for Kerr needs no explanation. Green echoed the sentiment, admitting that change is something he struggles with.
"I just don't deal with change well, I don't love it," he said. "I hope that's not the case, but we'll see what happens." At 60, Kerr is concluding his 12th season with Golden State, boasting a 604‑353 record, five consecutive NBA Finals appearances at the start of his tenure, and another Finals run more recently. He also guided USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
Kerr indicated that he will meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming weeks to discuss the franchise's direction. "We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason," he said. "And we will come to a collaborative decision on what's next. I don't know what's going to happen." Kerr emphasized his continued love for coaching while acknowledging that every job has an expiration date.
"There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas," he explained. He added that if the organization decides to move on, he would 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." The article also touched on other NBA play‑in results. In Orlando, Paolo Banchero scored 25 points as the Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, securing the eighth seed in the postseason.
Banchero added five rebounds and six assists, while Franz Wagner contributed 18 points and a near‑perfect free‑throw performance. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball led with 23 points, but it wasn't enough to break the decade‑long playoff drought. Looking ahead, the 2026 NBA playoffs will 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 live starting May 20. The match‑ups 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 playoff run live on Sky Sports or stream without a contract via NOW. The situation surrounding Kerr remains fluid, but his legacy with the Warriors—four championships, a record‑setting run of Finals appearances, and a reputation as one of the league's most respected tacticians—will endure regardless of the next chapter.
Whether he stays or moves on, the franchise and its supporters will undoubtedly reflect on a remarkable era defined by innovation, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.