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 might step away from his role following the Friday night defeat that ended the Warriors' hopes of advancing further in the postseason.
The Warriors fell 111-96 to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in game, a result that handed Phoenix the final Western Conference playoff berth and set up a first-round matchup against the top‑seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Veteran point guard Stephen Curry, now 38, contributed 17 points in what turned out to be the final game of a campaign that fell short of expectations. After the buzzer, Kerr addressed the media with a cryptic remark: "It might still go on.
It may not." The comment underscored the uncertainty surrounding his tenure. In the moments that followed, Kerr embraced Curry and forward Draymond Green—two players who have been constants throughout the Warriors' recent dynasty—and appeared to whisper a heartfelt "thank you" to each of them. When asked what he had said, Kerr simply smiled and replied, "None of your business." Both Curry and Green have been vocal about their desire to keep Kerr on the sidelines.
Curry emphasized his respect for the coach, saying, "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 his aversion to 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 Finals appearance later in his tenure. He also led 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 the season, fueling speculation about whether the organization will renew his deal or seek fresh leadership. 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 a decision could be reached within a week or two, stating, "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." He also reflected on the nature of coaching careers, acknowledging that "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." Kerr expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach in the Bay Area, adding, "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, to coach Dray and the whole group." While the Warriors contemplate their future, the NBA play‑in tournament continued elsewhere.
In a separate game, Paolo Banchero scored 25 points as the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90, securing the eighth seed in the playoffs. Banchero also contributed five rebounds and six assists, while teammate Franz Wagner added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Hornets guard LaMelo Ball led his team with 23 points and five assists, but the loss ended Charlotte's decade‑long quest to return to the postseason. The 2026 NBA playoffs are set to begin on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with four live games broadcast on Sky Sports Action starting 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) Sky Sports will also carry all Western Conference Finals games live from May 20 onward. 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 action live on Sky Sports or stream without a contract via the NOW platform.
The upcoming weeks will not only determine which teams vie for the championship but also potentially decide the next chapter of Steve Kerr’s storied coaching career with the Warriors.