Golden State Warriors head tactician Steve Kerr is about to enter his final year on his contract, with no discussions of demands or extensions yet, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Kerr said on Tuesday after the team’s first practice that he has no issue letting his contract expire before securing his future after this season.
“I’m very comfortable going into the season with a year left,” Kerr said. “I’m so aligned with [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and [owner] Joe [Lacob]. We talked about this — there’s no reason for discussion or concern. This is kind of a point in our relationship where let’s just see how it is at the end of the year.”
The head coach showed excitement about the current roster having the big three veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, together with key backup players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II, believing they can make it this season, and also hopes for an extension with the organization.
“I love my job,” Kerr said. “I love what I’m doing every day. I can’t wait to get to the building. Hopefully I’m here for another few years. But I think it makes sense for the organization and for me to see where this thing is at the end of the year — where they are and where I am. Hopefully that means we run it back, we keep going with this group, that’d be awesome. But I like the fact we can do it how we want it.”
Despite his last year, he emphasized that this time would be the right way, as he wanted to end it on a high note with a quality season.
“However this ends it’s going to be done in a really quality way,” Kerr said. “It’s going to happen the right way. If it’s meant for me to keep going, I’m going to keep going. If it’s meant to be for the team to move on to someone else, there will be nothing but gratitude and appreciation. This makes it easy for everybody. Let’s see where we are at the end of the year.”
It is now his 12th season coaching the Warriors’ core, which includes Curry and Green, resulting in much chemistry as they have formerly earned four titles in the previous years.
Kerr entered the 2023-2024 season on a similar expiring deal, but eventually signed a record two-year, $35 million extension in February that season.
