The Golden State Warriors’ 2025-26 season ended not with a bang, but with a whimper. A play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns. No playoffs. No championship. Just questions. Lots of them.
But the biggest question of all has nothing to do with trades, free agency, or the draft.
It’s about the man on the sideline.
Steve Kerr has been the head coach of the Warriors since 2014. He has won four NBA championships. He has revolutionized the game with his motion offense. He has been the steady hand through dynasties, injuries, and everything in between.
This season was the last that the Warriors paid him to coach the team. He did not receive a contract extension before the season began. And now, with the season over and the team facing a pivotal offseason, Kerr’s future is anything but certain.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, however, there is reason for optimism.
The Warriors believe it is “more likely than not” that they can find common ground for Kerr to return on a new deal.
Let that sink in. The architect of the dynasty is not gone. Not yet. And if Stein’s sources are correct, the Warriors are working to keep him in the Bay.
Kerr has been vocal that he would like to coach in Golden State as long as Stephen Curry is on the roster. Curry has voiced his support for Kerr to come back. The two are inseparable — a coach and his superstar, bound by championships and mutual respect.
But there are obstacles. ESPN executives are trying extremely hard to get Kerr to return to television — a much cushier job with fewer headaches. The Warriors have roster issues to solve. They need to build depth around Curry and Jimmy Butler. They have limited cap space. They might even try to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
None of that can happen without coaching clarity.
The Warriors need to figure out Kerr’s status before free agency begins. Only then can they build next year’s roster.
Let’s break down why Kerr should return, why he might not, and what this decision means for the future of the Warriors’ dynasty.
Let’s start with the obvious: Steve Kerr is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
Four championships. A 73-win season. A motion offense that changed the way basketball is played. A culture of selflessness, ball movement, and joy.
Kerr took over a Warriors team in 2014 that had talent but no direction. He turned them into a dynasty. He managed egos. He handled injuries. He kept the ship steady when everything around him was chaos.
He has more games as Golden State’s head coach than anyone in franchise history. He also has the highest winning percentage.
That is not a coincidence.
When Kerr is on the sideline, the Warriors win. When he is not — whether due to illness or absence — the team has never looked quite the same.
The Warriors know what they have in Kerr. They know his value. And they know that replacing him would be nearly impossible.
Let’s talk about the relationship that makes this decision so significant.
Kerr has been clear: he wants to coach as long as Stephen Curry is on the roster. And Curry has been equally clear: he wants Kerr to stay.
That is not just coach-speak. That is genuine respect between two men who have achieved everything together.
Curry is 38 years old. He is nearing the end of his career. The Warriors’ championship window is closing. If there is any chance to win another title with Curry, Kerr needs to be the one leading the charge.
A new coach would mean a new system. New terminology. New expectations. That takes time — time the Warriors do not have.
Kerr knows the roster. Kerr knows the system. Kerr knows Curry.
Keeping him is the path of least resistance. It is also the path of greatest potential.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: television.
ESPN executives are trying extremely hard to get Kerr to return to TV. It is a much cushier job. No travel. No pressure. No late nights breaking down film. No managing egos.
Kerr was a beloved broadcaster before he became a coach. He is articulate, funny, and insightful. He would be a natural fit in any studio.
But coaching is in his blood. He has said multiple times that he loves the competition, the camaraderie, the grind. He loves being in the trenches with his players.
The TV money will be there whenever Kerr decides to walk away. But the opportunity to coach Curry? That is finite.
Kerr has to decide what he wants. The Warriors have to decide what they are willing to offer.
Let’s not pretend that coaching the Warriors is an easy job.
This season was a mess. Injuries to Curry and Butler derailed any chance of a deep playoff run. The team finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs entirely.
The roster needs work. The Warriors need to build depth around Curry and Butler as both stars continue to age. They have limited cap space. They have only nine guaranteed contracts for next season.
There is a high probability that the Warriors will try to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Adding him would give them a third star player and make them a much larger threat in the Western Conference.
But that is a long shot. And even if it happens, the Warriors would need to fill out the rest of the roster with minimum-salary players.
Kerr would have to coach a team that is either rebuilding or going all-in. Either way, it is a challenge.
Let’s consider the alternative.
If Kerr does not return, the Warriors would be scrambling to find a new head coach. They would presumably want someone with several years of NBA head coaching experience.
That list is not long. And the candidates who are available might not want to take on the pressure of coaching a fading dynasty.
A new coach would bring a new system. New terminology. New expectations. That takes time — time the Warriors do not have.
Curry is 38. Butler is 37. Draymond Green is 36. The window is closing.
The Warriors cannot afford a transition year. They need to win now.
Kerr gives them the best chance to do that.
Let’s look at Marc Stein’s reporting.
“The Warriors believe it is ‘more likely than not’ that they can find common ground for him to return on a new deal.”
That is not a guarantee. It is not a done deal. But it is encouraging.
Stein is one of the most respected insiders in the NBA. When he reports something, it is worth taking seriously.
The fact that the Warriors are optimistic suggests that negotiations are moving in the right direction. Kerr wants to stay. The Warriors want him to stay. The question is the money and the length of the deal.
Kerr is 61 years old. He has been coaching for over a decade. He might want a shorter deal. The Warriors might want a longer one.
But common ground is there. And Stein’s sources believe it will be found.
So, after all that analysis, what’s the bottom line?
Steve Kerr must return as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Not because of sentiment. Not because of history. Because he is the best person for the job.
The Warriors need stability. They need continuity. They need a coach who knows the roster, knows the system, and knows how to win.
Kerr is that coach.
He wants to stay. Curry wants him to stay. The front office wants him to stay.
The only obstacles are money and TV.
Money can be solved. TV can wait.
Kerr has built a dynasty in Golden State. He should be the one to see it through to the end.
The Warriors need coaching clarity before free agency starts. They need to know who will be on the sideline next season.
Kerr is the answer. And if Marc Stein’s sources are correct, the Warriors are about to make it official.
Steve Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors has been the subject of speculation for months. His contract expired. He coached his last game without knowing if there would be more.
But according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Warriors believe it is “more likely than not” that they can find common ground for him to return on a new deal.
Kerr wants to stay. Curry wants him to stay. The franchise’s most successful era was built under his leadership.
The TV money is tempting. ESPN executives are trying hard to lure him back to the booth. But coaching is in Kerr’s blood. And the opportunity to coach Stephen Curry is finite.
The Warriors have roster challenges. They need to build depth around Curry and Jimmy Butler. They need to figure out their cap situation. They might even try to trade for Giannis.
None of that can happen without coaching clarity.
Kerr is the steady hand. The architect. The man who has been there through it all.
He should be there for whatever comes next.
More likely than not, he will be.
And Warriors fans can breathe a sigh of relief.