Why Steve Kerr Should Be the Coach of the Year
In both conferences, the playoff picture came down to the wire. The MVP race is coming down to the wire. The Defensive Player of the Year is coming down to the wire. So it only makes sense that Coach of the Year is also coming down to the wire.
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The award is essentially a three-man race: Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks, and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors (though what Brad Stevens has done in Boston is commendable). All three coaches are certainly worthy and, for many, it’s a toss-up (not unlike the other awards). Kidd has taken a young squad, more than doubled their wins from last season, and turned them into a playoff team. Budenholzer has created a solid team-first mentality in Atlanta, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In other years, either of those guys probably win.
This year, though, the award belongs to a rookie coach.
There are 67 reasons why Kerr has been the top head coach in the association this year. The Warriors are the best team in basketball and it’s not even close. Kerr has set the record for most wins by a rookie head coach. Under his tutelage, the Warriors have had their greatest season in franchise history. It seemed that every other night, the team was breaking records and setting franchise bests in pretty much everything.
He earned the right to coach the All-Star team in New York City. All year long, the Warriors have been towards the top in nearly every category on both sides of the ball. They stand alone on top of the conference’s standings in what is, arguably, the toughest Western Conference ever.
Opponents of Kerr’s case argue that he was “gifted” a good team already. And to be quite honest, that’s partly true.
The coach before — gosh, I can’t remember his name — helped change the culture in the Bay Area. Any team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Co. is already really good. But what Kerr did, which separates him from Budenholzer (and even Miami’s Erik Spoelstra during the LeBron James era), is that he didn’t just turn the Warriors into a really good team or a great team; he made them a historically significant squad.
Kerr created a system that the players bought into and executed to near perfection on both sides of the ball. They’re one of 10 teams in NBA history to reach the 67 win mark and they’re one of eight teams to finish with a point differential of +10. The Warriors’ 2014-15 regular season campaign is one of the greatest ever in NBA history.
March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) instructs guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
There is a less tangible aspect of Kerr’s case that is extremely relevant. After the former coach was fired, the players were shocked and clearly upset. Curry defended his former coach publicly several times. Upon his hiring, Kerr was already fighting an uphill battle. In addition to running a basketball team on the court, the five-time NBA champion had to win them over off the court. It didn’t take long for Kerr to endear himself to his team. Kerr also had the challenge of assembling an effective group of assistant coaches, which was something not seen previously in the Bay Area.
In just his first season, Kerr’s learned how to utilize player’s strengths and put them in positions to succeed. He has revitalized Harrison Barnes‘ career after an atrocious sophomore season. Through the help of his assistant coaches and trusting his star point guard, Curry has proven that he’s a more than competent defender. Draymond Green has blossomed into a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Kerr has been very mindful of player’s minutes and workload and it has paid off. The players look fresh heading into the playoffs as none of the Warriors’ were in the top-40 in minutes played. Though patient and amicable, Kerr is bold and fiery. He moved former All-Stars Andre Iguodala and David Lee to the bench. He showed a willingness to fight for his team, amassing eight technical fouls during his first season (he had five during his 15-year career as player).
Coming to Golden State, Kerr faced a combination of high expectations and doubt. Over the course of his first 82 game season, Kerr has exceeded those expectations and turned most, if not all, into believers. He’s created a system that’s a beautiful combination of Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, and Lenny Wilkens. He’s turned good into great and All-Star into MVP. Kerr has won over the team, upper management, and the fan base. It’s hard to completely quantify Kerr’s impact this season, but I think 67 is a good start.
Though he has higher team goals in mind, individually Kerr has blossomed into a beautiful butterfly.