The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a tense position as the season reaches its final stretch, but head coach Steve Kerr has made one thing crystal clear: tanking is not part of the plan.
As speculation began to build around the possibility of prioritizing draft position, Kerr quickly shut down the narrative.
For him, and for the Warriors the focus remains firmly on competing, improving, and fighting for a place in the postseason.
“We’re desperate to win,” Kerr told reporters last month. “Not only for each game but put ourselves in the position to be healthy come the playoffs…So, we’re actually in the habit of trying to preserve our guys for the betterment of our record. Every team paces their own circumstances and I’m going to deal with ours and let everybody else deal with theirs.”
On Wednesday, he was even more pointed when asked about the idea of surrendering games.
“So we should just quit? What is the point of what we’re doing? It’s competition. We’re playing to compete…I don’t understand the concept of ‘let’s just not try to win.’ That makes no sense to me,” he told 95.7 The Game.
Despite the challenges of the 2025-26 campaign, Kerr‘s Warriors are intent on staying competitive.
The team has faced its share of injuries, including key contributions from Stephen Curry and veteran players like Al Horford.
These setbacks have forced Golden State to rely on a mix of role players and younger signings, producing inconsistent results on the court.
Warriors aiming for consistency and quality in midst of playoff race
Golden State is navigating a crowded race for a Play-In spot, where the margin for error is razor-thin.
A short winning streak could propel them upward, while a few losses could push them out of contention entirely.
That volatility adds pressure to every game. But for Kerr, that pressure is part of the challenge.
Rather than viewing it as a reason to step back, he sees it as an opportunity to grow. Competing in meaningful games forces players to sharpen their focus, refine their execution, and develop resilience-qualities that are essential for long-term success.
Kerr understands the importance of that relationship. Culture isn’t just built inside the locker room-it extends to the fanbase, the community, and the identity of the franchise as a whole. Maintaining that culture requires consistency, especially during difficult stretches.
As the season continues, the Warriors will be tested. Every game will carry weight. Every result will matter. And every decision will be scrutinized. But through it all, Kerr has made the team’s approach clear.
They are not looking ahead to the draft, nor are they calculating losses. The Warriors are competing. And for the Warriors, that mindset may ultimately define how this season-and the ones that follow-are remembered.
