Steve Kerr, the veteran head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is currently weighing his options as the franchise looks ahead following a disappointing end to their season. 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 eliminated Golden State from postseason contention and handed the Suns the final Western Conference berth, pitting them against top‑seed Oklahoma City.
The game itself was a sobering conclusion for a team that had high expectations. Stephen Curry, now 38, managed only 17 points, a modest output compared to his usual scoring prowess, as the Warriors wrapped up a campaign that fell short of both fan and internal aspirations.
In the immediate aftermath, Kerr offered a cryptic response when asked about his future: "It might still go on. It may not," he said, leaving the question of his tenure open-ended. In the final moments of the night, Kerr embraced both Curry and Draymond Green, the two players who have been the backbone of the Warriors' championship runs under his guidance. Observers noted that Kerr appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to his stars, though he declined to reveal the exact words, quipping, "None of your business," with a smile that suggested both gratitude and uncertainty.
Both Curry and Green have been vocal about their desire to keep Kerr on the sidelines. Curry emphasized his wish for the coach to remain happy and enthusiastic about his job, stating, "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, just completed his twelfth season at the helm of the Warriors. His record over that span stands at an impressive 604 wins to 353 losses. He guided the team 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 an Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games, underscoring his reputation as one of the sport's most accomplished coaches.
Looking ahead, 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." 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 extraordinary opportunity to coach a franchise with a passionate Bay Area fan base and to work with talents like Curry, Green, and the rest of the roster. While the Warriors contemplate their next steps, the NBA Play‑In Tournament continued elsewhere. In a separate game, Paolo Banchero poured in 25 points as the Orlando Magic dispatched the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, securing the eighth seed for the Magic in the upcoming playoffs.
Banchero contributed five rebounds and six assists, while teammate Franz Wagner added 18 points and a near‑perfect free‑throw performance, shooting eight of ten from the line. For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 23 points and five assists, but it was not enough to break the decade‑long playoff drought for the franchise. 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 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) The Western Conference Finals will also be shown live from May 20 onward, featuring match‑ups such as Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (8), San Antonio Spurs (2) vs.
Portland Trail Blazers (7), Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6), and Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5). The Eastern Conference side will include Detroit Pistons (1) vs.
Orlando Magic (8), Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7), New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6), and Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs.
Toronto Raptors (5). Fans can watch the entire playoff series live on Sky Sports, either through a traditional subscription or via the NOW streaming platform, which offers contract‑free access. As the league gears up for another thrilling postseason, the question of Steve Kerr's future remains a focal point for Warriors supporters and the broader basketball community.
Whether he stays to guide Golden State through a potential rebuild or steps aside for fresh leadership, his legacy—marked by multiple championships, an Olympic gold medal, and a reputation for player‑first coaching—will continue to influence the franchise for years to come.