Steve Kerr signs lofty two-year extension with Warriors

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is signing a two-year, $35M contract extension, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Kerr will reportedly become the highest-paid coach in the league when his new deal kicks in next season. As Wojnarowski observes, Gregg Popovich technically makes more annually, but he’s also San Antonio’s president.

Now in his 10th season as the Warriors’ lead coach, Kerr holds a career regular season record of 501-264 (65.5% win percentage) and has accumulated a 99-41 (70.7%) playoff record, winning four championships and making six Finals appearances during that span.

Kerr also won five championships with the Bulls and Spurs across 15 seasons as a role player in the NBA, with other stops in Phoenix, Cleveland, Orlando and Portland. While he was limited in other areas, he was an elite shooter, with a career slash line of .479/.454/.864 across 910 regular season games (17.8 MPG).

Owner Joe Lacob has expressed confidence about retaining Kerr for several months and did so as recently as last week, and now a deal has finally come to fruition. The 58-year-old was in the final year of his contract.

While Kerr’s coaching record speaks for itself, the Warriors have certainly had their challenges in 2023-24, with Draymond Green being suspended multiple times and at one point Jonathan Kuminga reportedly losing faith in Kerr. However, after discussing the situation with Kerr, Kuminga has gone on to play the best stretch of basketball of his career.

Kerr’s contract situation is now resolved, but Klay Thompson — another key member of Golden State’s dynasty — remains an impending free agent. Lacob has said he hopes Thompson will remain a Warrior for the rest of his career.

After going 9-2 over their past 11 games, the Warriors are currently 28-26, the No. 10 seed in the West.