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Imago

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Imago

With more losses than wins this season for Dubs Nation, it looks like it’s a curtain call on the dynasty. Considered underdogs in their upcoming matchup against the LA Clippers, the Warriors now face another dilemma in head coach Steve Kerr, whose two-year contract is expiring. Wednesday’s elimination game could be his last appearance, and the four-time champion coach addressed the matter on Willard & Dibs.

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“I’m honestly not thinking about that. I’m just locked in on trying to beat the Clippers,” Kerr said. While Kerr said he’s ‘locked in on trying to beat the Clippers,’ the question of his contract talks still looms over the franchise.

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“And what I’m thinking about honestly is how much I enjoy this… I still love what I do and I’ve been lucky to be here for 12 years with this group. Like I said, we’ll figure all that other stuff [contract situation] out whenever the season ends,” Kerr added.

Kerr is unbothered by the ticking clock. According to several reports, the Warriors’ front office wants to offer him an extension for however long he wants it.

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It’s not a very extreme answer for Kerr, who’s always in win-now mode (despite what everyone says about him putting Curry & Co. on minutes restriction tomorrow). He’ll likely leave the obligatory talks for the summer. But we have it on good authority that his players aren’t ready to let him ride off into the sunset.

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Draymond Green confirms the team’s thoughts on Steve Kerr’s potential exit

While rumors of Kerr’s potential retirement have circulated throughout a turbulent season marked by injuries to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and more, the coach has remained consistent in his loyalty to his core group. He famously stated earlier this year, “I will never leave Steph Curry.”

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It’s a sentiment the Warriors’ core echoes. Draymond Green, who’s expected to play against the Clippers after resting a back injury, made it very clear they aren’t letting go of the winningest coach in franchise history.

“Steph doesn’t want another coach. Nobody wants that. We won four championships under coach Kerr,” Green said on NBA Today, around the time he hosted Kerr and the team at his LA home. “If he stops today, he’s a Hall of Fame coach. As long as we have a Steve Kerr wanting to coach this team, you’re not gonna go and find a better coach. That’s not a worry of mine or anybody in this organization.”

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Dray’s statement highlights a deep-seated trust and comfort between the veteran core and their head coach. Before Kerr, the Warriors were far from playoff contenders. The success they found under him makes the team attached to Kerr.

In a season where injuries have held them back, Kerr has shut down calls for ‘shutdown’ to give Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the rest of the team a fighting chance. To ensure this dynasty doesn’t fade out in an anticlimax, the results of the Inglewood game carry heavy weight for the future of Kerr, Curry, and Green, the last men standing in the Warriors dynasty.

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Caroline John

3,372 Articles

Caroline John is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports, specializing in league comparables. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and Communication and brings eight years of experience to the sports desk. Caroline made a mark in NBA media by covering the life of Know more

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Abhimanyu Gupta

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