Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made it clear that while the team wants to keep Steve Kerr beyond this season, any new deal will only happen once the veteran coach confirms he’s “fully committed” to continuing his run with the franchise.
Dunleavy: ‘We Want to Make Sure He Fully Wants to Be Here’
Speaking Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Warriors Pregame Live, Dunleavy expressed both confidence and caution about extending Kerr, who is in the final year of his record-setting contract.
“Look, the reality is, Steve can stay as long as he wants,” Dunleavy said. “If he’s going to coach here, we want to make sure that he fully wants to be here, is fully committed and all that. And I think Steve’s taking the time right now, he’s taking the season. We’re respectful of that.”
The general manager emphasized that the Warriors’ situation is unlike any other, calling Kerr’s status “unique” and insisting the team won’t rush negotiations.
“I’m confident that he’ll be back and we’ll get something done,” Dunleavy continued. “But this is not like a normal situation with a coach in the last year of his deal. This is Steve Kerr.”
Kerr Taking a Wait-and-See Approach
Kerr, who signed a two-year, $35 million contract in February 2024 that made him the league’s highest-paid coach at $17.5 million annually, is content to wait until the end of the season before revisiting his future.
“I’m very comfortable going into the season with a year left,” Kerr said at the start of the training camp. “I’m so aligned with Mike and Joe [Lacob]. We’ve talked about this — there’s no reason for concern. Let’s just see how it is at the end of the year.”
The 60-year-old coach made it clear he doesn’t expect in-season negotiations, focusing instead on guiding a veteran roster back to contention.
“I don’t anticipate any negotiation during the season,” Kerr said. “Maybe it all comes up at some point, and they come to me. But I’m not the slightest bit concerned about it. It just makes sense for all of us to wait.”
Balancing Commitment With Curry’s Window
Golden State’s focus remains centered on maximizing Stephen Curry’s championship window. The 37-year-old guard has two years left on his contract, a timeline that mirrors longtime teammates Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Kerr, Curry, and Green have defined one of the NBA’s most successful dynasties, capturing four championships since 2015. But with the team aging, Dunleavy and Kerr are aligned on ensuring the Warriors’ next phase is built with intent — and commitment.
“I love my job,” Kerr said. “Hopefully, I’m here for another few years. But it makes sense for the organization and for me to see where this thing is at the end of the year — where they are and where I am. Hopefully, that means we run it back.”
Warriors’ Strong Start Buoys Confidence
The Warriors are off to a strong start, winning four of their first five games despite Al Horford’s load management and rotation adjustments. Kerr has leaned on the development of Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski alongside Curry and Green, showing that the team remains adaptable even as its championship core ages.
For now, Dunleavy’s message is clear: the Warriors want Kerr to stay — but only if he’s ready to dive all in once more.
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