Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is weighing his options as the franchise concludes a disappointing season. After the Warriors fell 111-96 to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference play-in game on Friday night, ending their hopes of a postseason run, Kerr hinted that his tenure with the team could be nearing its end. The loss secured the Suns' final playoff berth and set them up against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. In the game, 38-year-old Stephen Curry contributed 17 points, a modest tally for a player accustomed to leading the team’s offense.
As the final buzzer sounded, Kerr embraced Curry and Draymond Green—two of the core players who have been with the Warriors throughout their championship runs under his guidance. Observers noted that Kerr appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to the duo, though he declined to disclose the exact words, joking, "None of your business." Both Curry and Green have publicly expressed a 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 this 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, compiling a remarkable 604-353 record. He guided the Warriors to the NBA Finals in each of his first five seasons—a streak unmatched in modern NBA history—and added another Finals appearance later in his tenure. Beyond the NBA, Kerr also led USA Basketball to a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, further cementing his reputation as one of the game’s most successful coaches. The uncertainty surrounding Kerr’s future has been amplified by the fact that this season marks the final year of his current contract.
While the Warriors’ front office has not issued an official statement, Kerr confirmed that he will meet with owner Joe Lacob and General Manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps. He said, "We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason, 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 nature of coaching careers, acknowledging that even the most rewarding positions have 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," he remarked. He added that, should the organization decide to move in a different direction, he would remain grateful for the unparalleled opportunity to coach the franchise, its passionate Bay Area fan base, and stars like Curry and Green.
The broader NBA landscape also featured notable moments on the same night. In the play-in tournament, the Orlando Magic, led by 25-point performance from Paolo Banchero, defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, clinching the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Banchero added five rebounds and six assists, while Franz Wagner contributed 18 points and a strong shooting performance. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball posted 23 points and five assists, but it was insufficient to break a ten-year playoff drought.
Looking ahead, the 2026 NBA playoffs are set to kick off on Sunday, April 19, with a slate of games broadcast live on Sky Sports Action. The schedule, listed in British Summer Time, includes: 6:00 pm – Philadelphia 76ers (7) @ Boston Celtics (2) 8:30 pm – Phoenix Suns (8) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 11:00 pm – Orlando Magic (8) @ Detroit Pistons (1) 2:00 am – Portland Trail Blazers (7) @ San Antonio Spurs (2) The Western Conference Finals will be shown live from May 20, featuring matchups such as Oklahoma City Thunder versus Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs versus Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets versus Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers versus Houston Rockets.
The Eastern Conference will see Detroit Pistons against Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics against Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks versus Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers versus Toronto Raptors. Fans can watch the entire playoff run via Sky Sports subscriptions or stream without a contract through the NOW platform. As the Warriors contemplate their next chapter, the NBA community will be watching closely to see whether Steve Kerr remains the architect of Golden State’s future or if a new voice will take over the bench. Regardless of the outcome, Kerr’s legacy—marked by multiple championships, an Olympic gold medal, and a reputation for fostering a culture of excellence—will endure as one of the most influential coaching careers in basketball history.