The Steve Kerr scenario is a conflicting studies nightmare

As Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors ponder whether or not the pinnacle coach will return after 12 years, the week of ready is making it borderline unimaginable to inform what’s actual and what’s faux.

The stakes for this week have been set for some time now, with Kerr not pursuing any contract extension earlier than the 2025-26 season ended. When the Warriors have been about to lose to the Phoenix Suns within the play-in spherical final week, the coach pulled in longtime stars Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced for a gaggle hug, along with his phrases to the duo picked up by a microphone and blasted out to everybody on social media.

“I do not know what is going on to occur subsequent, however I really like you guys to dying. Thanks,” Kerr informed Curry and Inexperienced.

Kerr’s acknowledgement that he isn’t certain about his return left followers and the media scrambling. ESPN reporter Anthony Slater stated Kerr informed him earlier than the play-in spherical that he was “genuinely 50-50,” one thing the outlet put in a prolonged offseason preview package deal printed on Monday. However even whereas saying he takes Kerr at his phrase, Slater contradicted that particular line.

“50-50 is rarely actually 50-50, there’s all the time a lean by some means. However that encapsulates his mindset,” Slater stated on the “Warriors Inventory Report” podcast that he co-hosts with fellow ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps. As Slater defined it, Kerr deliberately left all the main conversations he knew he needed to have about his future — with proprietor Joe Lacob, GM Mike Dunleavy, Curry and others — till after the season.

Nonetheless, many Warriors reporters have taken how Kerr spoke after Friday’s loss as an indication that Kerr may be carried out himself. Bontemps stated as a lot on his podcast. The Athletic’s Nick Friedell stated it “appears like Steve’s going to be some place else that is not with the Warriors subsequent 12 months” in an interview on 95.7 The Recreation on Wednesday. The identical was true for Tom Tolbert, Kerr’s former school teammate and longtime buddy who spent a long time working for KNBR-AM/FM and now runs an impartial podcast. On an episode launched Tuesday, Tolbert stated he doesn’t know what Kerr was going to do and stated he gained’t hassle his buddy, however acknowledged each the wild celebration of the win over the Clippers and the finality of the second with Inexperienced and Curry left him leaning a technique.

“It appeared just like the man who, if not able to go, actually considering what life can be like [without coaching],” Tolbert stated. 

NBC Sports activities Bay Space columnist Monte Poole went additional than anybody, publishing a narrative on Tuesday citing a number of nameless sources who stated Kerr will probably not return to the sidelines for Golden State. Poole then joined 95.7 The Recreation for an interview later that afternoon and added to his report.

“There are a variety of issues to rectify, and for Steve to resolve to return again, as a result of all I’m listening to is that he’s leaning in the direction of leaving,” Poole stated. “This goes again to even final summer time, I began listening to that for individuals contained in the group and out of doors the group.”

San Francisco Customary columnist Tim Kawakami additionally stated the staff and Kerr won’t have “sufficient widespread floor” to convey the coach again.

If that’s the case, then it might make sense for Golden State to start out testing attainable teaching candidates. Kawakami had a number of names in his column, together with Florida males’s basketball head coach Todd Golden, who used to teach on the College of San Francisco and gained a nationwide title within the 2024-25 season. Yahoo! Sports activities reported on Tuesday that the Lacob household was near Golden and “lengthy admired his teaching drive,” sending hypothesis into overdrive.

However that hypothesis has been contradicted by Slater, who informed his podcast listeners to not imagine any studies about Warriors and attainable teaching targets simply but.

“Administration isn’t there. They’re not discussing candidates internally,” Slater stated. “I’m making an attempt to inform this to the general public. They’re nonetheless on, ‘Steve Kerr continues to be the coach’ of their thoughts they usually’re determining his future earlier than they flip to different candidates. There’s not a stealth teaching search happening proper now. Steve Kerr has not determined by some means. Clearly, if it goes that approach, there are candidates that I do imagine they may go attempt to monitor down, however they don’t seem to be there proper now.”

However nobody appears to know for sure. And on Wednesday, although, Poole stated in a Bluesky put up that stated, “As of midday Wednesday, there stays a modicum of optimism that Steve Kerr will re-sign as coach of the Golden State Warriors, based on 4 staff/league sources. All concede there are sizable hurdles to clear earlier than Kerr considers returning, however he has not but dominated it out.”

As for the timing of a call? Kerr himself stated final Friday that he would wish “every week or two” earlier than sitting down. Poole reported a call was anticipated in “days, not weeks” on Tuesday. And Kawakami took to social media to increase the timeline for a short while longer.

“Feels like all people concerned expects the Steve Kerr/Warriors scenario to stay unresolved for not less than for a pair extra days. And this may go into subsequent week. Possibly longer,” Kawakami wrote. “Solely takes 1 dialog to hurry up every part, in fact. However to date … nothing imminent.” 

So, to recap: The Warriors seem to have teaching candidates they may pursue. However they aren’t pursuing them but as a result of they’re ready for Kerr’s choice. Nobody appears to know for sure what Kerr goes to resolve, as a result of there are such a lot of issues for the staff and coach to work out. And even when individuals assume he’s prone to go away, not even these closest to Kerr within the NBA appear to have any readability at this level. And the timing of any choice might are available in any day right here, or subsequent week, or attainable even the week after.

However apart from that, every part appears fairly clear, proper?