Steve Kerr ended last week with a high note. He became the first rookie head coach to obtain the pinnacle of winning his 63rd game in a season, finishing the season with 67 wins. Could anyone even doubt him reaching this feat? Kerr has had a career overhaul that cannot be matched.
Starting almost 30 years ago, he was playing for the USA Basketball team in 1986, the last team that the United States would have completely filled of amateur players. The team would go on to win the gold medal in the FIBA World Championship. Kerr would then go on to Arizona & be part of a team that would play in the 1988 Final Four. Unfortunately this would be one of the times that a Championship wasn’t won in his career.
He would however set the record for 3 point percentage in a NCAA season with 57.3%. After being drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1988 he was traded to the Cavaliers the following season which then propelled him into the spot he would be every season for the rest of his career: being in the playoffs & vying for the NBA title!
From 1996 to 1999 Kerr would be part of 4 championship teams. The Bulls second 3-peat & the San Antonio Spurs. By winning with two different teams in back to back years (98-99) Kerr joined Frank Saul as the only other play in NBA history to do that. Ironic they also won 4 in a row. Just some of the company a player like Kerr could only pull off.
Don’t forget with that 1997 championship for the Chicago Bulls everyone remembers game 5 against the Jazz as Michael Jordon’s “Flu Game”. But it was game 6 and Jordon finding the open Kerr who ceremonially hit a 17 foot jumper for the lead and impending victory. As his career would end with him having won 5 championships as a role player he would be known once again for his three point specialist capabilities.
Winning the 1997 three point shootout competition at that all-star game, 2003 would see him close out his shooting percentage dominance. As he retired from competition Kerr would hold the single season record for 3-point shooting percentage for a single season. Having .524% during 94-95 & also holding the record for a career with .454.
Being part of the all time single season record for a team with the Bulls (72-10) he has now taken his Golden State Warriors to a 66 – 15 record. They are the top seed in the west. The road to the Finals will now travel through the number one seed in Golden State and the Warriors lead with 109.7 points per game, field goal percentage is at .477, assists 27.4 & without a doubt they would lead the league in three-point percentage with .397.
Without a shadow of a doubt where he has played & playing for two of the best coaches of the last 25 years in Phil Jackson & Gregg Popovich has contributed to his abilities this season. Kerr’s two mentors combined have 15 titles, 10 of those titles for Jackson & 5 for Popovich. Kerr looks to start a run for a title as a coach this year and hoping for the coach of the year award. His player’s unselfish play & overall team effort night in and night out could help the man running the show grab his first ring. Well, his first ring for his other hand to go with that gold medal around his neck.
If this truly leads to his first title as a coach, 4 more to go & he’ll be even more “Golden” than he already is as Kerr personifies perfection.