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How Steve Kerr became one of the NBA’s top 15 coaches after a decorated playing career

Originally posted on HITC | By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Aug 22, 2025 8:06 AM ET

Steve Kerr’s CV is hard to match, both as a player and a coach.

He was never the headline act on any of his teams, but he played his part well. Known for his shooting, Kerr made a career out of doing the little things right.

Kerr picked up three titles with the Chicago Bulls during their dominant run in the ’90s and then add ed two more with the San Antonio Spurs. He wasn’t just along for the ride either—he hit some big shots in big moments.

And even after he hung up his boots in 2003, it didn’t take long for him to find his way back into basketball.

Kerr’s time in the front office

In 2007, Kerr became the general manager of the Phoenix Suns, returning to the team that originally drafted him. The move made sense given his connection to the franchise.

During his three years in that role, the Suns posted a 155-91 regular season record and reached the playoffs twice. But they never managed to capture a title during his tenure.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Even though Kerr tried to trade for Stephen Curry on draft night in 2009, it became clear he was better suited for coaching than front-office work.

That opportunity came in 2014 when Golden State hired him as their head coach, following their decision to part ways with Mark Jackson.

Steve Kerr’s record with the Golden State Warriors

In his first year in charge, Kerr took Golden State to the NBA title in 2015, and by 2018, the team had added two more championships to their tally.

Kerr was also on the bench for the historic 73-9 season, earning him NBA Coach of the Year honours. The following year saw another Finals appearance, though this time they were beaten by Toronto.

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The five-year stretch from 2015 to 2019 remains one of the strongest periods for any NBA coach. But that run came to a halt in 2020 when injuries hit hard and Golden State finished just 15-50.

Even so, Kerr managed to guide the Warriors back to another championship in 2022—the fourth under his leadership.

Now pulling in $17.5 million a year as the league’s highest-paid coach, Kerr has also been named among the NBA’s top 15 coaches ever.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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