Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Shares Heartfelt Reflection On ‘surreal' 600th Win

Warriors coach Steve Kerr shares heartfelt reflection on ‘surreal' 600th win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr joined an exclusive club as the Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards on Monday, becoming the fourth-fastest coach in NBA history to reach 600 wins.

The Warriors’ longtime leader became the 28th coach to achieve the milestone and did so in 943 games, behind only Phil Jackson (805), Pat Riley (832) and Gregg Popovich (887).

“It’s surreal to hear my name in that group, but I can tell you that it’s one thing that bonds us all together, those names and mine,” Kerr told reporters after Golden State’s 125-117 win at Capital One Arena. “It’s talent. It’s talent. I mean, you can’t win in this league without great players, and I was blessed from the day I took this job with incredible talent with Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and Andre [Iguodala] and Andrew Bogut and down down the list …

“All these guys are just amazing, and so I owe the honor to incredible talent and a great organization. Just to work for the Warriors, to be part of this amazing group of people that [Warriors owners] Joe Lacob and Peter Guber put together. Just to be a part of this, I’m so blessed, and most organizations are not this strong and this aligned, and I’m very, very lucky.”

After an illustrious NBA career where he won five NBA titles, Kerr spent time as a broadcaster and then executive with the Phoenix Suns before he replaced Mark Jackson as the Warriors’ coach in 2014. Since that first season with Golden State, Kerr, now in his 12th campaign at the helm, has gone on to coach the Warriors to four NBA Finals victories and is the winningest coach in franchise history.

While there have been plenty of low points along with the highs, Kerr made it clear he didn’t reach the mountaintop alone. In addition to crediting the Warriors stars who helped him along the way, the 60-year-old applauded the various assistants and mentors who have been with him on the sideline throughout the years.

“I’ve had so many great coaches on our staff here over 12 years, and I think back to my first year with Ron Adams and Alvin Gentry, and I really didn’t know what I was doing and having those guys next to me, Luke Walton,” Kerr continued. “That seems like a long time ago. And all the way up until today, just being in that room with Terry Stotts and [Jerry Stackhouse] and [Bruce Fraser] and the whole group, Kris Weems.

“It’s really special what we get to do every day, and I’m very lucky.”

Kerr is in the last year of his contract as Warriors coach, and both he and general manager Mike Dunleavy have yet to announce — or, perhaps decide — if he will return for a 13th season with Golden State.

Regardless of when that decision comes and what Kerr’s fate is, the Warriors coach has cemented himself as a legend in the Bay and across entire NBA.

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