Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is currently weighing his options following the team's elimination from the postseason. The four-time NBA champion’s tenure may be approaching its end, as he hinted on Friday night that he could step away after the season concluded with a disappointing loss. The Warriors saw their playoff aspirations dashed in a 111-96 defeat to the Phoenix Suns during the play‑in tournament.
That loss handed the Suns the final Western Conference playoff berth, setting them up to face the top‑seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round. Veteran point guard Stephen Curry, now 38, managed only 17 points in the game, underscoring the overall under‑performance that has plagued Golden State all season. After the final buzzer, Kerr offered a cryptic response when asked about his future, saying, "It might still go on. It may not." The comment left fans and analysts speculating about whether the 60‑year‑old will remain at the helm or move on to a new chapter.
In the closing moments, Kerr embraced both Curry and Draymond Green—two players who have been constants throughout the Warriors’ championship runs under his guidance—and appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to the crowd. When pressed for details about that exchange, Kerr smiled and replied, "None of your business," adding a touch of mystery to the moment.
Both Curry and Green have publicly expressed a desire to keep Kerr in charge. 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 that he struggles with change and would rather not imagine the franchise without Kerr’s presence on the sidelines. "I just don't deal with change well, I don't love it," Green said. "So, I don't want to think about that.
I hope that's not the case but we'll see what happens." Kerr’s record with the Warriors is impressive: 604 wins to 353 losses over twelve seasons, five straight NBA Finals appearances at the start of his tenure, and a sixth Finals trip later on. In addition to his NBA success, Kerr guided USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
Despite these achievements, his current contract is set to expire at the end of this season, fueling speculation about whether the organization will renew his deal or pursue a fresh direction. Kerr indicated that he will soon sit down with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to discuss the next steps.
He suggested that these conversations could take place within the next week or two. "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." He also reflected on the nature of coaching careers, acknowledging that every job has an expiration date. "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," Kerr explained. He added that, should the organization decide to move on, he would remain grateful for the unparalleled opportunity to lead a storied franchise, work with fans in the Bay Area, and coach stars like Curry and Green.
While the Warriors contemplate their coaching future, other NBA storylines unfolded on the same night. In the play‑in tournament, the Orlando Magic, led by 25‑point performance from Paolo Banchero, routed the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Banchero contributed five rebounds and six assists, while teammate Franz Wagner added 18 points and a near‑perfect free‑throw performance.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball’s 23 points weren’t enough to break a decade‑long playoff drought. The 2026 NBA playoffs are set to kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with four live games broadcast on Sky Sports Action starting at 6 p.m. BST.
The schedule includes: - 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) The network will also carry all Western Conference Finals games live beginning 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 via Sky Sports subscriptions or stream without a contract through the NOW platform.
As the Warriors evaluate their coaching situation, the broader league prepares for an exciting postseason that promises new storylines, emerging stars, and the inevitable debate over whether a legendary coach like Steve Kerr will continue to shape the franchise’s destiny or pass the baton to a new generation of leadership.