Just a few months ago, all Golden State Warriors fans could think about was who might succeed head coach Steve Kerr. His future was very much up in the air as he decided whether he wanted to keep coaching, before ultimately deciding to sign a two-year extension.
That delays the succession talk, but it still has to be in the back the mind of every Warriors fan. One name was proposed recently and while it might be unlikely or controversial on the surface, it could be a perfect fit.
Scott Ostler, a longtime Bay Area sports columnist, proposed that the Warriors should make the bold call to hire Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase to replace Kerr.
Warriors have to think big with Steve Kerr's replacement
Nakase would obviously be the first female head coach in NBA history and obviously with that would come misogyny or claims that she is not qualified for the role. That is inevitable, but looking at the job she’s done with the Valkyries, it's hard not to wish she could bring some of that success over to the Warriors.
Last season the Valkyries went 23-21 in their inaugural season and this year they have gone 25-10. That’s a testament to the great job Nakase has done with her squad, and there’s a decent chance the Warriors are going to feel like a brand new team in a few years.
By the time Kerr’s contract is up, there’s a decent chance that Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will either decide to retire or will be with other teams. Jimmy Butler will likely be gone. Essentially, the dynasty era will likely be firmly over and the Warriors will be trying to rebuild things from the ground up.
It’s the perfect time to take a big swing with a hire. Experience may not matter as much with a young group as the new coach will be learning and growing alongside what should be a relatively inexperienced crop of players.
Nakase does have NBA experience though. She was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, so it's not as if she'd be coming into the role with absolutely no prior knowledge of the NBA.
It would undoubtedly be a bold hire and it would certainly stir up controversy, but Joe Lacob owns both the Warriors and Valkyries. He could be the one to make that choice and break a glass ceiling in the NBA, while also giving the Warriors a dynamic coach with a track record of success.
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