Steve Kerr has been the steady hand behind the Golden State Warriors for 12 years, creating a culture many franchises lack. Four championships later, his partnership with owner Joe Lacob and current GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. has been defined by trust and transparency. Still, as the Warriors grow older, questions about Kerr’s future (and how long Stephen Curry will last) hover in the background.

Kerr was recently on 95.7 The Game, where some of his comments revealed subtle hints to Curry’s eventual retirement. When asked if he sees Steph not being a Warrior, he said, “No, no, I can’t imagine that… But, you know, things change dramatically in sports in so many ways. You never know how anything plays out,” hinting at the inevitability of change in the NBA. His comments offered a glimpse into a coach’s perspective and thoughts about endings, legacy, and balancing team success with career longevity.

Coach also talked about his hopes for his own career. “I want this to end perfectly… just the way it’s supposed to,” he said, making it clear that he would like a conflict-free and graceful transition whenever his time is over. “There’s been such an amazing run, and so, whether that is at the end of this year, at the end of next year, or the year after, it’s going to end really well.” In his mind, the quality of the experience matters just as much as the numbers on the board.

Kerr also talked about the benefits of the alignment he has forged with Lacob and Dunleavy, and reflected on his current mindset: “I’ve just gotten to the point here with this run where I can take my time… and I have a partnership with Joe and Mike where they understand.” He’s letting things play out year by year, and avoiding the problems that come with rushed decisions that can affect transitions in coaching.

Kerr’s tenure with Golden State has been heavily scrutinized, but the coach seems unbothered by speculation. “This allows everybody to just not worry about it. And we get on the same page at the end of the year once we see… how the hand is laid out,” he explained. By focusing on what’s in front of him, Kerr maintains a flexibility for himself and his team, all while keeping the culture intact.

Steve Kerr’s Year-by-Year Approach & Stephen Curry’s Role

Kerr’s philosophy is rooted in an ability to remain flexible. He’s not chasing multi-year deals, instead focusing on the current structure of the team. “I’m not doing this for leverage… I just want to see where our organization is at the end of the year,” he explained, highlighting that his communication withe Lacob and Dunleavy.

This approach is closely tied to Curry‘s remaining years. Currently, the superstar is under contract until the summer of 2027, and is not likely to stick around much longer, since he’s already at age 37.

Steve Kerr opened up to The Ringer about what it would mean to keep Stephen Curry under his wing for the rest of his career. “I would love nothing more than to coach Steph for the rest of his career because that’s what he means to me,” Kerr said. “And if he told me, ‘I want you to coach me another year,’ as long as the Warriors agreed, I’m doing it. It’s automatic. I’m not even giving it a second thought.”

That level of trust has shown up on the biggest stages. Kerr coached Curry and Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, powered by Curry’s heroics in the semifinal and finals wins over Serbia and France. It’s a reflection of the deep basketball dialect between the two- one that transcends team, system, or setting.

Yet, Kerr’s candid admission also underscores an uncomfortable reality: the Curry-led Warriors philosophy wouldn’t exist without Kerr. If the head coach were to step away while Curry intends to play longer, the franchise could face its first real test of identity in a decade.

Which is why Kerr’s contract negotiations aren’t just about years or money- they represent the very continuity of a culture that has defined the Warriors’ dynasty.

Kerr recognizes Curry’s influence on the culture, chemistry, and rotations, and is using his per-year method to adjust plans around the star guard, and adapting to Curry’s motivation, performance, and health while the organization prepares for the next era.

Ultimately, Kerr is using this method to protect the team’s performance and culture during their last few title runs with Curry. It balances a respect for the legacy he has helped build, while maintaining the practicalities of coaching, trying to keep the the team competitive.

Like he said, “Hopefully that’s not for two or three years and I’m here during that whole run and that’s kind of what I expect, but we’ll, like I said, this, this allows us to just play it out and see what happens.“