Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is weighing his options after the team’s season concluded with a disappointing loss in the play‑in tournament. The four‑time NBA champion coach hinted that he may step away from his role following the Warriors’ 111‑96 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, a game that eliminated Golden State from postseason contention and handed the Suns the final Western Conference berth, pitting them against the top‑seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The loss marked a sobering end to a campaign that fell short of expectations. Stephen Curry, now 38, managed just 17 points in the game, a modest tally compared with his usual scoring output.
After the final buzzer, Kerr shared a brief, emotional 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 seemed to mouth a quiet "thank you" during the hug, though he declined to confirm what he said, replying with a smile, "None of your business." Both Curry and Green have been vocal about their desire to keep Kerr at the helm.
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 his discomfort with change: "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, has completed 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 Team USA to an Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
His current contract is set to expire at the end of this season, adding another layer of speculation about his future. He confirmed that he will meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps for the franchise. "We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason," Kerr said.
"And we will come to a collaborative decision on what's next. I don't know what's going to happen." Kerr also reflected on the inevitable cycle of success and transition in professional sports.
"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. 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, Draymond Green, and the whole group," he said.
While the Warriors contemplate their coaching future, the NBA play‑in tournament continued with other storylines. In Orlando, the Magic secured the eighth seed by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90, with Paolo Banchero contributing 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
Franz Wagner added 18 points on efficient shooting, while LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 23 points and five assists, but it was not enough to break the Hornets' decade‑long playoff drought. The 2026 NBA playoffs are set to kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, featuring four live games on Sky Sports Action beginning at 6 p.m. BST.
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, with home‑court advantage indicated first, 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, either through a traditional subscription or via the NOW streaming service, which offers contract‑free access. As the Warriors evaluate their coaching situation, the broader NBA landscape moves forward, promising high‑stakes basketball, emerging storylines, and the ever‑present question of who will lead the next generation of champions.