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Steve Kerr strongly considered retirement throughout Warriors season

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Steve Kerr strongly considered retirement throughout Warriors season

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to continue his tenure with the organization on a multi-year deal to keep him as the NBA’s highest-paid coach.

But that almost didn’t happen. He seriously contemplated retirement, according to ESPN.

Although he never went through with the decision, there have been multiple instances where retirement has crossed his mind, per ESPN.

ESPN says he discussed retirement for the first time in June 2025, about a month after the Warriors lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals in five games, losing star Stephen Curry to injury in the process.

“My wife and I have been talking about it a lot,” Kerr told ESPN’s Wright Thompson then. “I have a year left on my contract. Maybe one more season. Maybe two. When Steph Curry and Draymond Green leave, the franchise deserves a clean start. We are one injury from completely falling apart.”

That’s nearly what happened during the 2025-26 campaign. The huge blow was losing Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL in January, especially as the team was starting to roll.

Even before then, retirement had crossed Kerr’s mind. The Warriors lost an overtime game to the Toronto Raptors, a contest they led for most of the game. The loss didn’t sit well with Kerr.

“I think things have run out here,” he said. “It’s just time to move on. For me and for them. I’m probably being too emotional after yet another close loss, but it’s probably true. … We will commiserate and drink beer and watch the game on our computers and complain about all the dumb plays we made.”

That loss was in late December. Golden State turned into one of the better teams through January until Butler got hurt. About a week and a half later, they lost Curry for 27 straight games to runner’s knee.

The battered Warriors scraped their way to the 10th seed, somehow finding themselves still in NBA Play-In contention, as the season drew to a close. Even then, Kerr said he had his mind made up on calling it quits after the season, before the Warriors played a March 25 game against the Nets.

He told ESPN’s Thompson that he spoke with his wife, Margot, at the time and they both agreed that the 2025-26 season would be his last. All Kerr wanted was a classy ending.

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Critics wrote them off and said the dynasty was over. Their demeanor changed when Curry returned at the end of the season and they went into the NBA Play-In Tournament against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It was a fight and, in the end, Curry’s heroics saved the day, reminding Kerr of what he’d be walking away from.

The atmosphere of the game, the postseason environment and the story of Golden State’s season – that contest was gratifying for the Warriors and the thought of their once-existent dynasty.

“For one night, we’re us,” Kerr said. “We are champions again.”

It was after that game he told Thompson in a whisper, “I’m not leaving.” According to Thompson, Kerr also received a text from his wife, too, that read “You’re not leaving.”

The Warriors lost the next Play-In game to the Phoenix Suns, and Kerr shared a moment with Curry and Draymond Green. After the game, he said: “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 met with team owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. over weeks of discussion until a deal was ultimately reached. All sides agreed that there is still a competitive fire and they look forward to the upcoming season.

“We’re thrilled that Steve’s tenure with the Warriors will continue,” Dunleavy said in a news release. “His impact on our franchise has been enormous, well beyond the championships and incredible on-court success. The character and leadership that he exudes each day helps set the tone for what we hope our franchise represents both now and in the future.”

And despite considering retirement, Kerr said he’s grateful for the opportunity to remain the Warriors coach.

“This organization has meant so much to me for the last 12 years − from ownership to our players, our staff and our fans − and it’s an incredible privilege to be a part of something so special,” Kerr said in a news release. “I’m excited to keep competing with this group.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Kerr retirement thoughts loomed throughout Warriors season

Read the full article here

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