Steve Kerr Addresses NBA Retirement, Warriors Future and Watch Emotional Moment with Steph, Draymond

Friday night might have marked the end of an era for the Golden State Warriors, as Steve Kerr was noncommittal about returning as head coach following their 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-in tournament.

There was a moment after the game ended when Kerr was mic'd up telling Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, "I don't know what's gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death."

Warriors-Suns Highlights

01:30

Speaking to reporters after the loss, Kerr said he plans to take a little time to think about his future while discussing it with Warriors governor Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. before making any final decisions.

Kerr said in those comments that he still loves coaching, but that every job has "an expiration date" when it's time for "new blood and new ideas."

In reflecting on what the Warriors have accomplished during his 12 seasons as head coach, Kerr expressed nothing but gratitude to the entire organization and fans for their support:

"If [my time is done], then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise in front of our fans and to coach Steph Curry, [Draymond Green], the whole group. It may still go on. It may not. I don't know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and then reconvene."

Kerr's future has been a storyline throughout the entire season. He signed a two-year, $35 million extension in February 2024 that took him through the 2025-26 campaign.

It was also aligned with Curry's contract at the time, but the two-time MVP signed a one-year extension in the summer of 2024 that keeps him under contract through 2026-27.

Lacob told Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard in February that the team was comfortable letting Kerr play out his deal and deciding what's next in the offseason.

"He's got a job to do. Let's just let people focus — I mean, why would you do that now? Let's just focus on the season," Lacob said. "Really, it's up to him. What does he want to do? And he doesn't know, I don't think. So, we'll have that discussion later."

The Warriors are entering the summer with a lot of questions to answer. Green has a player option for 2026-27 and was the subject of trade rumors during the season. Jimmy Butler is rehabbing from a torn ACL. Moses Moody's status for next season is uncertain after tearing his patellar tendon on March 23.

Curry isn't looking to retire imminently, but his 43 games played this season were his fewest since 2019-20. He just turned 38 years old on March 14.

Kerr has been Golden State's head coach since the 2014-15 season. He is the winningest coach in franchise history with 604 career victories and four NBA titles.