The NBA market has officially closed, and as the smoke clears from the front offices in San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors find themselves at a crossroads that goes beyond the names on the hardwood. Despite resolving the Jonathan Kuminga saga, the front office’s inability to land a true superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo has left a bittersweet taste. However, the real seismic shift is on the bench: Steve Kerr is approaching the final stretch of his contract with a future that is as bright as it is uncertain.
Kerr, the man with four championship rings, is entering the final year of his $35 million extension. What in 2024 seemed like a smooth transition toward retirement alongside his legends has now become a hotbed of rumors. The anxiety is real; reports from The Ringer claim that Kerr’s assistant coaching staff is already testing the market, operating under the belief that this will be the coach’s “last dance” in the Bay. But what does the main character really think?
A blood pact with Curry
Amid this storm of speculation, Kerr has made a promise that echoes like a commandment for any Dubs fan. Speaking with Dan Patrick, the strategist made it clear that his destiny is tied to that of the greatest shooter in history.
“I would never leave him. I can tell you that. I love Steph,” Kerr stated with a firmness that shuts down any rumors of a move to another team. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have coached him for 12 years. I’m the kind of coach who dreams of someone like him. I’m not going to be a free agent to sign with another team, that’s for sure.”
The ball is in Lacob and Dunleavy’s court
Despite the romanticism and unwavering loyalty, Kerr is a seasoned professional who understands that pro sports do not run on promises alone. The reality is that the coach is seeking a salary increase that reflects his stature-surpassing his current $17.5 million annually-a clear point of friction with the front office in a year in which the Warriors have failed to meet expectations following Jimmy Butler’s devastating injury.
“It depends on Mike and Joe [Lacob],” Kerr told Anthony Slater of ESPN. It is an acknowledgment that, even though his heart belongs to the Warriors, the franchise’s logic could dictate a different path if the project fails to deliver results as the 2026 season comes to a close. Kerr wants to “die” with his boots on alongside Curry, but the final decision rests in offices that today seem colder than ever.
