Stephen Douglas Kerr (born September 27, 1965) is an American professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
coach and former player who is the head coach for the
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...
of the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
(NBA) and the
U.S. national team. He is known as one of the most accurate
three-point shooters in NBA history and holds the record for
highest career three-point percentage. Kerr is also a nine-time
NBA champion, having won five titles as a player and four as head coach of the Warriors. He was named one of the
15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History.
Kerr played
college basketball
College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...
for the
Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats are the sport, athletic teams that represent the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, Tucson. The Wildcats compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I (NCAA Divis ...
. He was a two-time first-team
all-conference player in the Pac-10 (now known as the
Pac-12) and earned
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
honors as a senior in 1988. In the 1987–88 season, Kerr set the NCAA single-season three-point field goal percentage record (57.3%). Selected by the
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
in the second round of the
1988 NBA draft, Kerr played 15 seasons in the NBA. He won five NBA championships as a player—three with the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
and two with the
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
—and retired as the all-time NBA leader in single-season three-point shooting percentage and career three-point shooting percentage.
Following his retirement as a player, Kerr became a minority owner of the
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
as part of a group led by
Robert Sarver that purchased the team in 2004. In June 2007, Phoenix named Kerr the team's president of basketball operations and general manager. Kerr announced he was leaving the position in June 2010. After stepping down from his post with the Suns, Kerr worked as a color commentator for ''
NBA on TNT
The ''NBA on TNT'' is an American presentation of National Basketball Association (NBA) games, produced by TNT Sports (formerly known as Turner Sports and later Warner Bros. Discovery Sports). In the United States, the TNT cable network held ...
'' until 2014.
In May 2014, Kerr was named head coach of the
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...
. Under his leadership, the franchise entered the most successful period in its history, reaching the
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
six times and winning four championships (in
2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
,
2017
2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly.
Events January
* January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
,
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
, and
2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
). The
2015–16 Warriors won an unprecedented 73 games, breaking the record for the
most wins in an NBA season.
Early life and international play
Kerr was born in
Beirut
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
, Lebanon to
Malcolm H. Kerr, a Lebanese-born American academic, and his wife Ann Kerr (née Zwicker), a California-born academic. Both of his parents specialized in the Middle East.
He has three siblings. His grandfather,
Stanley Kerr, volunteered with the
Near East Relief after the
Armenian genocide
The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...
and rescued women and orphans in
Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
and
Marash before eventually settling in
Beirut
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
. Kerr spent much of his childhood in
Lebanon
Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
and other Middle Eastern countries. While in Beirut in the summer of 1983, he met a number of U.S. Marines who were later killed in the
Beirut barracks bombings.
Kerr graduated from Palisades High School in Los Angeles in 1983.
Malcolm Kerr was killed by members of the
Islamic Jihad on January 18, 1984 at the age of 52 while he was serving as president of the
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut (AUB; ) is a private, non-sectarian, and independent university chartered in New York with its main campus in Beirut, Lebanon. AUB is governed by a private, autonomous board of trustees and offers programs le ...
.
He was shot twice in the back of his head by gunmen using
suppressed handguns in the hallway outside his office.
Kerr was an 18-year-old college freshman at the time of his father's death.
Regarding his father's death, Kerr has said: "Before my father was killed, my life was impenetrable. Bad things happened to other people."
Ann Kerr married Kenneth Coogan Adams in December 2008, becoming Ann Kerr-Adams.
Kenneth Adams died on September 12, 2017.
In the summer of 1986, Kerr was named to the
U.S. national team that competed in
the FIBA World Championship in Spain. The team won the title for the first time since
1954
Events
January
* January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting.
* January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...
, and was the last American men's senior squad not to feature
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
players that had won a major international tournament.
Kerr suffered a knee injury during the competition.
College career

Minimally recruited out of high school, Kerr played basketball at the
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...
from 1983 to 1988. Kerr injured his knee playing in the 1986 FIBA World Championship, forcing him to miss the
Wildcats' entire
1986–87 season.
During pre-game warmups at arch-rival
Arizona State University
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...
in 1988, Kerr was taunted by
Sun Devils fans with chants that included "
PLO
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO; ) is a Palestinian nationalist coalition that is internationally recognized as the official representative of the Palestinian people in both the occupied Palestinian territories and the diaspora. ...
" and "Where’s your father?"
Though tearful, Kerr led the Wildcats to victory, scoring 20 points in the first half, making all six of his
three-point attempts.
Arizona State athletic director Charles Harris sent a letter of apology to Kerr a few days later. Along with fellow
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
teammate
Sean Elliott, Kerr helped the Wildcats reach the
Final Four
In sports, the final four is the last four teams remaining in a playoffs, playoff tournament. Usually the final four compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in ...
of the
1988 NCAA tournament. A two-time first-team
All-Pac-10 selection, he also set an NCAA single-season record for 3-point percentage (57.3%, 114–199) in 1987–88. The NCAA introduced the three-point shot while he was
redshirting. In his only collegiate season with the three-point shot, he established standards that formerly stood as
Pac-12 records for nearly two decades: single-season three-point shots made (114; stood until
Salim Stoudamire posted 120 in 2005),
Pac-12 tournament run three-point field goal percentage (.750, min 5 made;
Marcus Williams, .833, 2006). Kerr led the Pac-10 in free throw shooting in 1985–86 (89.9%).
Kerr graduated from the University of Arizona in 1988 with a
Bachelor of General Studies, with an emphasis on history, sociology, and English.
Professional career
Phoenix Suns (1988–1989)
Kerr was selected by the
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
in the second round of the
1988 NBA draft. He was chosen as the 50th overall pick. He averaged 2.6 points per game for the Suns in his rookie season.
Cleveland Cavaliers (1989–1992)
In 1989, Kerr was traded to the
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
for draft consideration. In more than three seasons with the Cavaliers,
he set the team's franchise single-season (.507, 1989–90)
[ and career three-point field goal percentage (.472) records.][
]
Orlando Magic (1992–1993)
In December 1992, Kerr was traded to the Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...
for draft considerations. He averaged 2.6 points per game during his tenure with Orlando.
Chicago Bulls (1993–1998)
In 1993, Kerr signed with the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
. He played five seasons for the Bulls and typically came off of the bench, playing the role of three-point shooting specialist. The Bulls made the playoffs in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons, but without Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...
's presence for all of 1994 and much of 1995, the team was unable to advance to the Finals. However, with Jordan back full-time for the 1995–96 season, the Bulls set a then-NBA record of 72–10 and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals in six games.
In 1997, the Bulls logged a 69–13 regular-season record and reached the 1997 NBA Finals, where they faced the Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the ...
. At the end of Game 6, with the score tied at 86, Kerr took a pass from Jordan and made a 17-foot jump shot to win the championship for the Bulls. Kerr also won the Three-Point Contest at the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend.
In the last minute of Game Two of the 1998 NBA Finals against Utah, Kerr missed a three-pointer, grabbed his own rebound, and made a pass to Jordan. Jordan made a crucial three-point play, putting the Bulls in the lead for good and helping the team tie the series at one game apiece. The Bulls went on to win the series in six games.
Kerr set the Bulls' franchise single-season (.524, 1994–95)[ and career three-point field goal percentage (.479) records.][ During his tenure with the Bulls, Kerr averaged 8.2 points per game on 50.7% shooting.]
San Antonio Spurs (1999–2001)
In January 1999, Kerr was acquired by the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls, whereby Chuck Person and a first-round pick in the 2000 NBA draft was sent to Chicago. The Spurs reached the 1999 NBA Finals
The 1999 NBA Finals was the championship round of the shortened 1998–99 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs took on the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks f ...
and won their first NBA Championship with a 4–1 series victory over the New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
. Kerr and Frank Saul were the only two players in NBA history to have won three championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons, until Patrick McCaw, whom Kerr later coached with the Warriors, achieved the same feat in 2019.
Portland Trail Blazers (2001–2002)
On July 24, 2001, Kerr was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...
alongside Derek Anderson in a deal that brought Steve Smith to the Spurs. Kerr would remain in Portland for the 2001–02 season, playing in 65 games and averaging 4.1 points per game.
Return to San Antonio (2002–2003)
On August 2, 2002, Kerr was traded back to San Antonio along with Erick Barkley and a 2003 second-round pick. In return, the Trail Blazers received Charles Smith, Amal McCaskill, and Antonio Daniels. Kerr played in nearly every game (75) the following year, which was his final season in the league. In Game 6 of the 2003 Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...
, Kerr made four second-half three-pointers that helped the Spurs win the game and eliminate Dallas from the playoffs. The Spurs eventually won the NBA championship by beating the New Jersey Nets
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995
* "New" (Daya song), 2017
* "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...
during the 2003 NBA Finals
The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2002–03 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs played the Eastern Conference ...
in six games.
Retirement
Kerr announced his retirement after the 2003 NBA Finals. During his NBA career, Kerr won five NBA championships. He retired as the league's all-time leader in single-season three-point shooting percentage (.524 in 1994–95) and career three-point shooting percentage (.454). As of 2024, Kerr is the only NBA player to win four straight NBA titles after 1969.
Broadcaster and commentator
In 2003, Kerr became a broadcast analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT), offering commentary alongside analyst Marv Albert
Marv Albert (born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig; June 12, 1941) is an American former sportscaster. Honored for his work by the Basketball Hall of Fame, he was commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball". From 1967 to 2004, he was also know ...
. During his tenure, Kerr performed a segment sponsored by Coors Light called ''Steve's Refreshing Thoughts'' in which he brought up interesting facts in NBA history. This segment continued through sponsorship and became known as ''Steve Wonders'', sponsored by Sprint. In the same time period, Kerr also contributed to Yahoo!
Yahoo (, styled yahoo''!'' in its logo) is an American web portal that provides the search engine Yahoo Search and related services including My Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo News, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports, y!entertainment, yahoo!life, and its a ...
as an NBA commentator.
Kerr left broadcasting in 2007 to become the general manager of the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
, but he returned as an NBA analyst for TNT for the 2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Chicago's Derrick Rose was named the 2010–11 NBA MVP. Th ...
. In 2011, he also called the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, branded as March Madness, or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion of the Division I level ...
on Turner Sports and CBS, teaming up with lead broadcasters Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg for the First Four and Final Four games, and with Albert in other rounds. Kerr was also a regular contributor to the website '' Grantland'' from 2011 until it closed in 2015.
Executive career
Phoenix Suns (2004–2010)
On April 15, 2004, Kerr was announced as a member of a potential group of buyers that would acquire his old team, the Phoenix Suns, from Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939) is an American businessman and sports executive. He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the A ...
for $300 million. Kerr became part of Suns management, acting as a consultant. During the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, he was a member of the San Antonio team that won the Shooting Stars Competition.
On June 2, 2007, Kerr announced that he would become the general manager
A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
of the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
beginning with the 2007–08 season. In 2008, the Suns traded forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks
Arthur Lemarcus Banks III (born November 19, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball, UNLV Runnin' Rebels, where he was Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a ...
to the Miami Heat in exchange for Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal ( ; born March 6, 1972), commonly known as Shaq ( ), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program ''Inside the NBA''. He is a and Center (basketball), center ...
. The Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
in five games in the first round of the playoffs. On December 10, 2008, Kerr continued to remake the Suns roster by trading Boris Diaw
Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod (born 16 April 1982), better known as Boris Diaw, is a French basketball executive and former player who is the president of Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A. Diaw began his playing career in Pro A and returned to that lea ...
, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley, and the Bobcats' 2010 second-round draft pick, which was used to draft Gani Lawal of Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Established in 1885, it has the lar ...
. On June 25, 2009, he traded O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a future second-round draft pick and cash.
On May 5, 2010, the Suns wore their "Noche Latina" ''Los Suns'' jerseys in Game 2 against the Spurs to be united against the controversial Arizona immigration law. Kerr himself compared the law to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
.
In 2010, Kerr left the Suns as president of basketball operations and general manager. He continued to own less than one percent of the Suns' organization until 2014, when he decided to coach the Golden State Warriors.
Coaching career
Golden State Warriors (2014–present)
2014–15 season: Emergence of Stephen Curry and the beginning of a dynasty
On May 14, 2014, Kerr reached an agreement to become the head coach for the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...
, succeeding Mark Jackson in a five-year, $25 million deal. Kerr coached in the 2014 Summer League for the Warriors. During the 2014–15 season, the team's offense employed elements of the triangle offense from his playing days in Chicago under Phil Jackson, the spacing and pace of Gregg Popovich
Gregg Charles Popovich (born January 28, 1949) is an American professional basketball executive and former coach who is the president for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the List of current NBA head co ...
in San Antonio, and the uptempo principles Mike D'Antoni
Michael Andrew D'Antoni (born May 8, 1951) is an American-Italian professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as a coaching advisor for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
While h ...
and later Alvin Gentry used in Phoenix when Kerr was the general manager.
After the Warriors beat the Houston Rockets to win their 14th consecutive game, Kerr became the first coach to start his career with a 19–2 record. This beat out Al Cervi and his 18–2 start with the Syracuse Nationals. On December 10, 2014, Kerr became the first NBA rookie head coach to win 21 of his first 23 games. He was named the head coach of the Western Conference team for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game after the Warriors had the best record in the conference. On April 4, the Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 123–110 to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, and Kerr got his 63rd win of the season to become the highest winning rookie head coach in NBA history, passing Tom Thibodeau and his 62 wins with the Chicago Bulls in the 2010–11 season. In the NBA Coach of the Year
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who l ...
voting, Kerr was the runner-up to Mike Budenholzer
Michael Vincent Budenholzer (born August 6, 1969) is an American professional basketball coach who most recently served as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Budenholzer previously head coached the M ...
.
The Warriors ultimately finished with one of the best regular seasons in NBA history, and the greatest in the team's 69-year history. They ended with an overall record of 67–15, becoming the 10th team to win 67 or more games in a single season and point guard Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen Curry II ( ; born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the ...
won his first of two consecutive regular season MVP awards. It was the first time the Warriors had ever won as many as 60 games in a season; their previous high was 59 in the 1975–76 season. They also ended with a 39–2 home record, which is tied for the second-best home record in NBA history. The Warriors were first in defensive efficiency for the season and second in offensive efficiency, barely missing the mark that the Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American former professional basketball player. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Association (ABA), and he was the best-known player ...
–led Sixers achieved by being first in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to have two win streaks over 15 at home (18 and 19).
In the opening round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...
, Kerr led the Warriors to their first four-game playoff sweep since the 1975 NBA Finals. Afterwards, the team beat the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the ...
(4–2, in the second round). Down 2–1 in the series, Kerr made an unconventional adjustment in Game 4 to leave the Grizzlies' Tony Allen open and have his defender, center Andrew Bogut, guard the interior. Kerr's strategy was lauded after Allen, Memphis' best wing defender but a poor jump-shooter, was benched and limited to 16 minutes after missing wide open shots. The Warriors then defeated the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...
(4–1, in the Western Conference finals), making the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
for the first time in 40 years.
The Warriors faced the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
in the 2015 NBA Finals. Kerr and coach David Blatt were both in their first season as NBA head coaches, and this was the first time a pair of rookie head coaches faced each other in the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
since the NBA's first year of existence, in 1947 with Eddie Gottlieb
Edward Gottlieb (born Isadore Gottlieb; September 15, 1898 – December 7, 1979) was a Jewish-Ukrainian professional basketball coach and executive. Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball" and "the Mogul", he was the first coach and manager of the Philadelph ...
of the Philadelphia Warriors and Harold Olsen
Harold G. Olsen (May 12, 1895 – October 29, 1953) was a college men's basketball coach. The Rice Lake, Wisconsin native was the head coach of the Ohio State University from 1922 to 1946. That year, he became the first head coach of the BAA ...
of the Chicago Stags competing. After the Warriors went down 2–1 to Cleveland, Kerr started swingman Andre Iguodala
Andre Tyler Iguodala ( ; born January 28, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player who played for 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and was named to the NBA All ...
in place of Bogut, jump-starting their stagnant offense for a 103–82 road victory that evened the series. It was Iguodala's first start of the season, and the small unit came to be known as the Death Lineup. After the game, Kerr admitted to lying to the press in response to pregame questions about potential changes to his starting lineup. The Warriors went on to win the championship in six games, defeating the Cavaliers, giving Kerr his sixth championship and his first as a head coach.
2015–16: Several-month absence amid historic season
After the first two days of the defending champion Warriors' training camp, Kerr took an indefinite leave of absence to rehabilitate his back, which had caused problems since the 2015 NBA Finals. Around this time, assistant coach Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28, 1980) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the lead assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 10 seasons in the NBA as a ...
assumed Kerr's coaching duties. Kerr missed all of 2015 and most of January 2016, although technically the NBA credited Walton's win–loss record to Kerr. Kerr said "I think it's ridiculous", when asked about getting all of Walton's wins. On January 22, 2016, Kerr returned to coaching after missing 43 games, but warned he might need to miss games occasionally if there was a recurrence of the headaches and pain related to the spinal fluid leak that sidelined him. The Warriors went 39–4 with interim coach Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28, 1980) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the lead assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 10 seasons in the NBA as a ...
. The Warriors went 34–5 after Kerr returned to coaching, and the team broke the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls 72–10 record by winning 73 games. For his record-breaking season, Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen Curry II ( ; born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the ...
was named the league's first ever unanimous MVP
MVP most commonly refers to:
* Most valuable player, an award, typically for the best performing player in a sport or competition
* Minimum viable product, a concept for feature estimating used in business and engineering
MVP may also refer to:
...
in history, becoming the 11th player in history to win the award in consecutive seasons and the first guard to do so since Steve Nash in 2004–05 and 2005–06. His scoring average increase of 6.3 is the largest ever by a reigning MVP. Kerr became the first person in NBA history to be a part of 70-win teams as a player and head coach and was named 2015–16 NBA Coach of the Year
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who l ...
. Kerr led the Warriors to the 2016 NBA Finals, where they would again face the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Warriors lost in seven games despite a 3–1 lead.
2016–19: Arrival of Kevin Durant, back to back championships
On July 4, 2016, Golden State had made a landmark acquisition, signing free agent and 7-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988), also known by his initials KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Durant has won two List of NBA champions, NBA champ ...
and the Warriors were immediately hailed as a "superteam" by the media and fans, forming a new All-Star
An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.
Sports
"All-star" as a sport ...
"Fantastic Four" of Durant, Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen Curry II ( ; born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the ...
, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
Draymond Jamal Green (born March 4, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Green, who plays primarily at the Power forward (basketball), power forward pos ...
. On November 20, 2016, the NBA announced that Kerr had been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating during a radio interview with KNBR 680 three days prior. The Warriors broke over 20 NBA records on their way to equaling their 2014–15 regular-season record of , their second most wins in franchise history.
He missed time during the 2017 playoffs due to recurring back issues. Associate head coach Mike Brown acted as acting head coach during periods of Kerr's absence, and Brown continued head coaching into the playoffs leading the Warriors to a 13–0 record in the postseason. Kerr returned in Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals, where the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. The Warriors finished the playoffs with a 16–1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history. Kerr is the fourth coach in NBA history to win two championships in his first three seasons of coaching. He won his third championship as a head coach when the Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
in four games during the 2018 NBA Finals to give Kerr his eighth championship of his career. The Warriors reached their fifth straight Finals under Kerr in 2019, but were defeated by the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...
in six games. During Game 5, starting power forward Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988), also known by his initials KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Durant has won two List of NBA champions, NBA champ ...
tore his Achilles, and in Game 6, starting shooting guard Klay Thompson tore his ACL.
2019–present: Injury-plagued season before a return to the promise land
During the 2019–20 season, with Thompson out for the year and franchise point guard Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen Curry II ( ; born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the ...
only playing five games due to a hand injury, the Warriors finished with the worst record (15–50) in the league. It marked the first time in Kerr's coaching career that he had missed the playoffs. In 2020–21, with Thompson still out due to an Achilles tear but Curry healthy, the Warriors qualified for the newly implemented play-in tournament, but ultimately did not qualify for the playoffs for the second straight season. The Warriors returned to the playoffs in 2021–22 and reached the 2022 NBA Finals
The 2022 NBA Finals was the NBA Finals, championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2021–22 NBA season, 2021–22 season and conclusion of the 2022 NBA playoffs, season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, ...
. They defeated the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...
in six games, giving Kerr his fourth championship as a head coach and his ninth championship overall.
In the 2022–23 season, Kerr and the Warriors reached the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were defeated in six games by the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 20, 2025, he recorded his 100th playoff win as a head coach, tying Larry Brown for sixth place in the list.
United States national team
Kerr was an assistant coach on the gold medal-winning United States men's Olympic basketball team at the 2020 Summer Olympics
The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
. In December 2021, he was named head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team. In 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
, Kerr led the United States team to a disappointing fourth place finish at the FIBA World Cup as the U.S. failed to win a medal for the second consecutive tournament after an overtime loss to Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
in the bronze medal game, 127–118.
2024 Summer Olympics
The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...
At the 2024 Summer Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament, Kerr coached the United States team to its fifth consecutive gold medal at Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
' Bercy Arena in a win over host country France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, 98–87. This was a reprise of the win over the French Team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Legacy
Kerr is the first head coach in NBA history to lead his team to 67 or more wins in three consecutive seasons. Kerr was named one of the Top 15 Coaches in NBA History in 2022, when the league commemorated its 75th anniversary. In March 2025, he overtook Al Attles as the Warriors coach with the most wins in franchise history.
Personal life
Kerr married Margot Brennan, his college sweetheart, in 1990. They have three children. His son Nick is currently head coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League
The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is a professional basketball league in North America that serves as the Minor league#Basketball, developmental league of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league comprises 31 teams; as of ...
. He is a keen soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
fan and an avid supporter of Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
. In 2023, Kerr bought a minority stake in club Mallorca
Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...
.
Political views and activism
Prior to and following the 2016 United States presidential election
United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 8, 2016. The Republican Party (United States), Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana Governor, Indiana governor Mike P ...
, Kerr has been publicly critical of Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
. In an interview following that election, he voiced the opinion that Trump's rise to power was based on insults against women and minorities. He compared Trump's campaign performances and the crude responses of his supporters to the sensationalism of ''The Jerry Springer Show
''Jerry Springer'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Jerry Springer. The show ran for twenty-seven seasons from September 30, 1991, to July 26, 2018, in which it broadcast 3,891 episodes. It was taped at the NB ...
''. Kerr made clear his "disgust" with Trump's disrespectful public discourse and disappointment with Trump's leadership of the country. On October 27, 2020, an ad created by the anti-Trump Republican Lincoln Project Super PAC
Independent expenditure-only political action committees, better known as super PACs, are a type of political action committee (PAC) in the United States. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs are legally allowed to fundraise unlimited amounts of m ...
was first broadcast. In it, along with Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...
coach Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers (born October 13, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). An NBA player for 14 seasons, he was an NB ...
, Kerr endorsed Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
for president in the November presidential election. In the advertisement, he said, "I stand for truth over lies", "categorically reject white supremacy", and "believe a presidency should be transparent."
Kerr has been a strong supporter of gun control
Gun control, or firearms regulation, is the set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms and ammunition by civilians.
Most countries allow civilians to own firearms, bu ...
, expressing criticism with the government's response to school shootings. On May 24, 2022, during a press conference for Game 4 of the NBA's 2022 Western Conference finals after that day's Robb Elementary School shooting in Texas where 19 children and two teachers were murdered by a gunman wielding semi-automatic weapons, Kerr reiterated these points emotionally. He said that Republicans in the U.S. Senate were "holding us hostage" by using filibuster
A filibuster is a political procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolong debate on proposed legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision. It is sometimes referred to as "talking a bill to death" or "talking ...
to prevent a vote on gun control legislation.
Kerr has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a Decentralization, decentralized political and social movement that aims to highlight racism, discrimination and Racial inequality in the United States, racial inequality experienced by black people, and to pro ...
movements across the United States, praising the efforts of peaceful protests and hopes that more people will take action to stand up to systemic racial injustice to black people.
Kerr spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention
The 2024 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention, presidential nominating convention in which delegates of the Democratic Party (United States), United States Democratic Party
voted on their party ...
on August 19, 2024.
Career statistics
NBA
Regular season
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Phoenix
, 26 , , 0 , , 6.0 , , .435 , , .471 , , .667 , , .7 , , .9 , , .3 , , .0 , , 2.1
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 78 , , 5 , , 21.3 , , .444 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", .507* , , .863 , , 1.3 , , 3.2 , , .6 , , .1 , , 6.7
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 57 , , 4 , , 15.9 , , .444 , , .452 , , .849 , , .6 , , 2.3 , , .5 , , .1 , , 4.8
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 48 , , 20 , , 17.6 , , .511 , , .432 , , .833 , , 1.6 , , 2.3 , , .6 , , .2 , , 6.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 5 , , 0 , , 8.2 , , .500 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 1.4 , , 2.2 , , .4 , , .0 , , 2.4
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Orlando
, 47 , , 0 , , 9.4 , , .429 , , .250 , , .909 , , .8 , , 1.3 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 82 , , 0 , , 24.8 , , .497 , , .419 , , .856 , , 1.6 , , 2.6 , , .9 , , .0 , , 8.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , 0 , , 22.4 , , .527 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", .524* , , .778 , , 1.5 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .0 , , 8.2
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 82 , , 0 , , 23.4 , , .506 , , .515 , , .929 , , 1.3 , , 2.3 , , .8 , , .0 , , 8.4
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 82 , , 0 , , 22.7 , , .533 , , .464 , , .806 , , 1.6 , , 2.1 , , .8 , , .0 , , 8.1
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 50 , , 0 , , 22.4 , , .454 , , .438 , , .918 , , 1.5 , , 1.9 , , .5 , , .1 , , 7.5
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 44 , , 0 , , 16.7 , , .391 , , .313 , , .886 , , 1.0 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .1 , , 4.4
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 32 , , 0 , , 8.4 , , .432 , , .516 , , .818 , , .6 , , .4 , , .1 , , .0 , , 2.8
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 55 , , 1 , , 11.8 , , .421 , , .429 , , .933 , , .6 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , .0 , , 3.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;",
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 65 , , 0 , , 11.9 , , .470 , , .394 , , .975 , , .9 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , .0 , , 4.1
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;",
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 75 , , 0 , , 12.7 , , .430 , , .395 , , .882 , , .8 , , .9 , , .4 , , .0 , , 4.0
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 910 , , 30 , , 17.8 , , .479 , , style="background:#E0CEF2;", .454 , , .864 , , 1.2 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .1 , , 6.0
Playoffs
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 5 , , 0 , , 14.6 , , .286 , , .000 , , , , 1.2 , , 2.0 , , .8 , , .0 , , 1.6
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1992
1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General.
* January 6
** The Republ ...
, style="text-align:left;", Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
, 12 , , 3 , , 12.4 , , .439 , , .273 , , 1.000 , , .5 , , .8 , , .4 , , .0 , , 3.7
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1994
The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations.
In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 10 , , 0 , , 18.6 , , .361 , , .375 , , 1.000 , , 1.4 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , .0 , , 3.5
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1995
1995 was designated as:
* United Nations Year for Tolerance
* World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 10 , , 0 , , 19.3 , , .475 , , .421 , , 1.000 , , .6 , , 1.5 , , .1 , , .0 , , 5.1
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 18 , , 0 , , 19.8 , , .448 , , .321 , , .871 , , 1.0 , , 1.7 , , .8 , , .0 , , 6.1
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1997
Events January
* January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States.
* January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis.
* January 1 ...
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 19 , , 0 , , 17.9 , , .429 , , .381 , , .929 , , .9 , , 1.1 , , .9 , , .1 , , 5.1
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
, style="text-align:left;", Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, 21 , , 0 , , 19.8 , , .434 , , .463 , , .818 , , .8 , , 1.7 , , .3 , , .0 , , 4.9
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 11 , , 0 , , 8.8 , , .267 , , .231 , , .833 , , .8 , , .7 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.2
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 9 , , 0 , , 11.2 , , .480 , , .333 , , .500 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , .4 , , .1 , , 3.3
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 2002
The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
, style="text-align:left;", Portland
, 3 , , 0 , , 13.0 , , .429 , , .250 , , 1.000 , , 1.3 , , 1.7 , , .3 , , .0 , , 6.3
, -
, style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;", 2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
, style="text-align:left;", San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, 10 , , 0 , , 4.6 , , .636 , , .833 , , .750 , , .3 , , .6 , , .1 , , .0 , , 2.2
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 128 , , 3 , , 15.6 , , .426 , , .370 , , .876 , , .9 , , 1.2 , , .5 , , .0 , , 4.3
College
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1983–84
, style="text-align:left;", Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, 28 , , , , 22.6 , , .516 , , , , .692 , , 1.2 , , 1.3 , , 0.3 , , 0.0 , , 7.1
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1984–85
, style="text-align:left;", Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, 31 , , , , 33.4 , , .568 , , , , .803 , , 2.4 , , 4.0 , , 0.6 , , 0.1 , , 10.0
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1985–86
, style="text-align:left;", Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, 32 , , , , 38.4 , , .540 , , , , .899 , , 3.2 , , 4.2 , , 1.6 , , 0.0 , , 14.4
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1986–87
, style="text-align:left;", Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, align="center" colspan=11, Redshirted
Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the ...
—Did not play
, -
, style="text-align:left;", 1987–88
, style="text-align:left;", Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, 38 , , , , 32.6 , , .559 , , .573 , , .824 , , 2.0 , , 3.9 , , 1.2 , , 0.1 , , 12.6
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career[Steve Kerr]
basketball-reference.com, accessed March 20, 2010.
, 129 , , , , 32.1 , , .548 , , .573 , , .815 , , 2.2 , , 3.4 , , 1.0 , , 0.1 , , 11.2
Head coaching record
NBA
, - style="background:#fde910;"
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 67 , , 15 , , , , 1st in Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...
, , 21 , , 16 , , 5 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Won NBA championship
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , style="background:#e0cef2;, 73 , , 9 , , style="background:#e0cef2;, , , 1st in Pacific , , 24 , , 15 , , 9 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Lost in NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, - style="background:#fde910;"
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 67 , , 15 , , , , 1st in Pacific , , 17 , , 16 , , 1 , , style="background:#e0cef2;,
, style="text-align:center;", Won NBA championship
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, - style="background:#fde910;"
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 58 , , 24 , , , , 1st in Pacific , , 21 , , 16 , , 5 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Won NBA championship
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 57 , , 25 , , , , 1st in Pacific , , 22 , , 14 , , 8 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Lost in NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 65 , , 15 , , 50 , , , , 5th in Pacific , , — , , — , , — , , —
, style="text-align:center;", Missed playoffs
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 72 , , 39 , , 33 , , , , 4th in Pacific , , — , , — , , — , , —
, style="text-align:center;", Missed playoffs
, - style="background:#fde910;"
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 53 , , 29 , , , , 2nd in Pacific , , 22 , , 16 , , 6 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Won NBA championship
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 44 , , 38 , , , , 4th in Pacific , , 13 , , 6 , , 7 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Lost in conference semifinals
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 46 , , 36 , , , , 5th in Pacific , , — , , — , , — , , —
, style="text-align:center;", Missed playoffs
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Golden State
, style="text-align:left;",
, 82 , , 48 , , 34 , , , , 3rd in Pacific , , 12 , , 5 , , 7 , ,
, style="text-align:center;", Lost in conference semifinals
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , , 875 , , 567 , , 308 , , , , , , 152 , , 104 , , 48 , , , ,
International
{, class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align:right;"
, +
, -
!Team
!Year
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
!Tournament
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! data-sort-type="number" ,
! Result
, - style="background:#9acdff;"
, style="text-align:left;" , United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, style="text-align:left;" , 2023
, 13 , , 10 , , 3 , ,
, World Cup
A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the name is ...
, 8 , , 5 , , 3 , ,
, data-sort-value="1" style="text-align:center;" , 4th place
, - style="background:#fde910;"
, style="text-align:left;" , United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, style="text-align:left;" , 2024
, 11 , , 11 , , 0 , ,
, Olympics
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competit ...
, 6 , , 6 , , 0 , ,
, data-sort-value="1" style="text-align:center;" , Won gold medal
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" , Career
, 24 , , 21 , , 3 , ,
,
, 14 , , 11 , , 3 , ,
,
Awards and honors
NBA
* Nine-time NBA champion
** Five as a player (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003)
** Four as a head coach (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
* Two-time NBA 3-point field goal percentage leader (1990, 1995)
* 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History selection
* 2016 NBA Coach of the Year
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who l ...
* Two-time NBA All-Star Game head coach (2015, 2017)
* 1997 NBA Three-Point Contest champion
USA Basketball
* 1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was the 10th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. It was hosted by Spain and was held from 5 to 20 July 1986. The final phase of the tournament was hel ...
(as a player)
* 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist (as an assistant coach)
* 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist (as head coach)
NCAA
* No. 25 retired by the Arizona Wildcats
Media
* Three-time ESPY Award winner
** 2015 Best Coach/Manager
Civic Honors
* 2025 - Received Key to the City of San Francisco
Records
NBA
* Career 3-point field goal percentage (.454)
Chicago Bulls
* Single-season 3-point field goal percentage (.524, 1994–95)
* Career 3-point field goal percentage (.479)
Cleveland Cavaliers
* Single-season 3-point field goal percentage (.507, 1989–90)
* Career 3-point field goal percentage (.472)
NCAA
* Single-season 3-point field goal percentage (57.3%, 1987–88, min 100 made)
See also
* List of NBA career 3-point field goal percentage leaders
* List of NBA players with most championships
The following is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) players who won the most championships.
The NBA is a Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, major professional basketball league in North America. It ...
Notes
References
External links
*
Basketballreference as coach
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, Steve
1965 births
Living people
1986 FIBA World Championship players
All-American college men's basketball players
American men's basketball coaches
American men's basketball players
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players
Basketball coaches from California
Basketball players from Beirut
Basketball players from Los Angeles
Chicago Bulls players
Cleveland Cavaliers players
Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics
College basketball announcers in the United States
Competitors at the 1986 Goodwill Games
FIBA World Championship–winning players
Golden State Warriors head coaches
Goodwill Games gold medalists
Goodwill Games medalists in basketball
NBA broadcasters
NBA championship–winning head coaches
NBA general managers
Olympic coaches for the United States
Orlando Magic players
People of the Lebanese Civil War
Phoenix Suns draft picks
Phoenix Suns executives
Phoenix Suns players
Point guards
Portland Trail Blazers players
San Antonio Spurs players
Shooting guards
United States men's national basketball team coaches
United States men's national basketball team players