Warriors give Steve Kerr record two-year, $35M extension،
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, architect of four franchise championships, has agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract extension that will make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history. agents Rick Smith and Dan Eveloff of Priority Sports told ESPN. Friday.
Kerr's contract was set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, and his $17.5 million per season extension will take him through the 2025-26 campaign. The extension aligns it with the remaining two years of Stephen Curry's contract.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich makes more every year, sources say, but he holds the dual titles of president and coach. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has signed an eight-year extension that pays him around $15 million per season, according to sources.
The deal ends months of discussions between Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kerr's representatives, assuring the Warriors they will retain the coach whose .655 winning percentage is fifth in NBA history.
“I think it’s amazing,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Kerr’s extension. “I wouldn't want to end my time here with any other coach. What he means to this franchise…the winning ways he brought here, you can't replace that….He got what 'he deserved.'
Ensuring Kerr remains with Dunleavy at the helm of the organization has been a priority of owner Joe Lacob. The Warriors never got an extension with former president and general manager Bob Myers, who left the team at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Kerr, 58, has established himself as an iconic figure in the Warriors dynasty and is now committed to navigating what could become a transitional phase of an organization built around Curry, Green and Klay Thompson for more than 'a decade.
Green said he never had any concerns about Kerr receiving a new deal.
“No, because I know Joe will do the right thing,” Green said of Lacob. “He has done nothing other than establish trust with us that he will do the right thing and take care of those who look after this organization.”
Kerr, who has four titles and six NBA Finals appearances, won his 500th game on February 15. This made him the fifth-fastest coach to achieve this in history.
He is also the national coach of Team USA and will coach the Americans at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Kerr led the Warriors to 73 wins during the 2015-16 regular season, the most in NBA history. Now in his ninth season, Kerr is 502-264 during his tenure in Golden State.
