Golden State Warriors: Steve Kerr doesn’t think even he could make it with the NYK

The Golden State Warriors are 5-19, and no one is calling for Steve Kerr’s job. He knows that may have been different had he been in New York.

David Fizdale is gone. Steve Kerr is in. The Golden State Warriors have just five wins. However, Kerr knows that the situations could’ve easily been flipped.

Obviously, after winning three titles in the past five years, Kerr isn’t on the hot seat. It’s not even close. But, he’s had the personnel to be able to coach championship-level teams. He made a decision to join a team that he knew was destined for success.

Fizdale, who joined the Knicks, a team that used the bulk of their cap on three power forwards this offseason, was recently fired. Whether it was his fault or not can be debated, but it’s doubtful any replacement does much better.

A ruthless New York market that takes these unsuccessful coaches and easily finds different, equally as unsuccessful coaches could have eaten up the Warriors head coach. He acknowledged that as well, telling reporters “that would’ve been me three years ago,” after being asked about Fizdale’s situation.

Since Mike D’Antoni‘s five-year tenure, a New York Knicks head coach hasn’t lasted more than two full seasons. That’s not a problem with the coach, but the management, the player development and so much more.

As you can tell with D’Antoni’s success in Houston, it’s difficult to just enter a situation that needs built and create sustained success. However, entering one with a few stars that just needs to be molded into something new is doable.

Fizdale has been praised as a top-tier coach around the league and has had little success with the Knicks after missing on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in free agency.

In the 20 years of this century, the Knicks have had ten different coaches. That’s not a recipe for success. Kerr believes in Fizdale, and notes, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Weinrib, that the strength of an organization is of utmost importance as well as the coach’s skill.

"“I’m a big fan of David’s. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well over the years. He’s a hell of a coach. As we know in this business, it’s extremely fragile, and your job is dependent on a lot of things when you’re a coach in this league. Number one, probably the talent you’re able to coach. But just as importantly is the strength of the organization and the group around you.”"

The New York Knicks are a mess, and Kerr is likely extraordinarily thankful for the decision he made to join the Golden State Warriors.