Golden State’s head coach, Steve Kerr, 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, a game that sealed the final Western Conference playoff berth for Phoenix and set up a first‑seed clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Veteran point guard Stephen Curry, now 38, managed only 17 points in the loss, underscoring the under‑performance that has plagued the franchise all season. After the final buzzer, Kerr addressed the media with a cryptic remark: “It might still go on.
It may not.” The comment left fans and analysts speculating about the coach’s next move. In the immediate aftermath, Kerr shared a brief, emotional embrace with Curry and forward Draymond Green—two players who have been constants throughout the Warriors’ recent championship runs. Observers noted that Kerr appeared to mouth a quiet “thank you” during the hug, though the coach declined to confirm what was said, replying with a smile, “None of your business.” Both Curry and Green have been vocal about their desire to keep Kerr on the bench. 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 that sentiment, admitting, “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 604‑353 record. He guided the Warriors to the NBA Finals in each of his first five years and added another appearance later in his tenure.
In addition to his NBA success, Kerr led USA Basketball to a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite these achievements, his contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, fueling ongoing speculation about his future. Kerr indicated that he will meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming weeks to discuss the organization’s direction. 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.
I don’t know what’s going to happen.” He added, “I still love coaching, but I understand these jobs have an expiration date. When a run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas. If that’s the case, I’ll be grateful for the incredible opportunity to coach this franchise, the Bay fans, Steph Curry, Draymond and the entire group.” While the Warriors contemplate their leadership, the play‑in tournament continued elsewhere.
In Orlando, the Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90, with rookie star Paolo Banchero contributing 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Franz Wagner added 18 points and a solid all‑around performance.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball led the scoring with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a playoff spot, ending a decade‑long drought for Charlotte. 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.
British Summer Time. 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) Sky Sports will also broadcast all Western Conference Finals starting May 20.
The match‑ups are listed with the higher seed enjoying home‑court advantage: - 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 2026 NBA Playoffs live on Sky Sports, or stream without a contract via the NOW platform. As the Warriors evaluate their next steps, the broader basketball world shifts its focus to the upcoming postseason drama, where new storylines will emerge and the quest for the championship will intensify.