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Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
He got to 599 and then had to wait. Five losses in a row, a depleted roster, and a road trip that felt like it might never turn. Then came Monday night in Washington, and Steve Kerr finally had his moment. The Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 125-117, and with that win, Kerr reached 600 career victories as a head coach. He is the 28th coach in NBA history to get there, and one of the fastest to do it.
Kerr needed 943 regular-season games to reach the milestone. Only three coaches in history required fewer. Phil Jackson did it in 805. Pat Riley in 832. Gregg Popovich in 887. The company he keeps says everything about where he stands in the history of the game. It is a list built on dynasties, championships, and generational talent. Kerr belongs on it.
Warriors’ Kerr Reflects on Historic Coaching Achievement
GettyHead Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr was characteristically measured when asked to take stock of the moment. “Not a great basketball game,” he said of the win itself. “But we needed the win and were good enough to get the win.” On the milestone, he did not take sole credit. “It’s surreal to hear my name in that group,” he said. “But I can tell you that one thing that bonds us all together, those names and mine, is talent. You can’t win in this league without great players, and I was blessed from the day I took this job with incredible talent.”
The numbers behind his tenure back that up. Kerr joined the Warriors in 2014 and immediately transformed the franchise, winning the championship in his first season and guiding Golden State to six Finals appearances in eight years. He led the team to a 73-win season in 2015-16, a record that still stands. Four championships followed, along with the highest career winning percentage among active coaches with 600 or more wins, sitting at 63.6 percent, trailing only Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach all-time. He has also won more than 100 playoff games, placing him among just seven coaches in league history to reach both figures. Between playing and coaching, Kerr has nine NBA championship rings. Monday made him just the second person in NBA history to record 600 wins as both a player and a coach, joining Don Nelson.
Warriors’ Porzingis Delivers as Golden State Ends Losing Streak
The win itself came with its own subplot. Kristaps Porzingis returned after being rested on Sunday and delivered his best performance as a Warrior, scoring a game-high 30 points to match his season high. Draymond Green was also back in the lineup. Kerr could not help but note the timing of the Wizards fixture. “We’re on the Kristaps Porzingis reunion tour,” he said with a smile. “It’s kind of crazy. We’re playing every one of his former teams. The Knicks, Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas. All five of his teams we’re seeing on this trip. Players usually get up for playing against their old teams.”
Stephen Curry remained out with his knee injury, while Jimmy Butler continues to recover from a torn ACL that ended his season in January. The Warriors improved to 33-35, still ninth in the Western Conference. The five-game losing streak is over. The play-in race continues.
Final Word for Golden State
Kerr has always insisted that the players make the coach. He said it again on Monday. But the record speaks for itself. Four championships. Six Finals. A winning percentage that puts him among the greatest to ever do it.
Curry once said that Kerr “wanted to take our success as a great defensive team, a really talented offensive team and unlock it further.” That is what 600 wins looks like. Golden State is lucky to have him.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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