Steve Kerr almost walked away from the Golden State Warriors before the NBA play-in tournament even tipped off. The veteran head coach reportedly told ESPN's Wright Thompson he was "95 percent" certain about retiring ahead of his team's do-or-die matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 15. "I think it's over," Kerr admitted the day before the game.
Fast forward to today, and Kerr has signed a two-year extension with the Warriors, keeping him at the helm of the franchise. It's a dramatic turn for the 60-year-old coach, who seemed ready to hang up his clipboard for good.
The turning point came during the Warriors' season-saving 126-121 win over the Clippers. According to Thompson, after the game, an assistant noted the team had only led for four minutes and six seconds. "Everyone laughed and tried to stay in the moment," Thompson wrote. "Steve looked over at me and spoke quietly, almost a whisper."
That whisper seemed to signal a change of heart. Though the Warriors ultimately fell to the Phoenix Suns in the West's final play-in game—ending their season outside the playoffs for the second time in three years—Kerr's mindset had already shifted. Cameras caught him telling Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, "I don't know what's going to happen next," as the final buzzer sounded.
Kerr's contract with the Warriors was expiring, and he acknowledged the possibility the team might move on from him. In an offseason where major changes were clearly needed, Golden State instead chose stability, keeping Kerr and making him the highest-paid coach in the NBA.
When discussing retirement with Thompson, Kerr reflected on former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who officially stepped down last year after a debilitating stroke. For the past few years, Kerr has watched his mentor's journey closely, and it's clear the thought of stepping away has been weighing on him.
For now, though, the Warriors' sideline remains in familiar hands. Whether Kerr will coach beyond this extension remains to be seen—but for a guy who was 95 percent ready to retire just weeks ago, every game from here on out feels like a gift.