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With less than half a season remaining on his current coaching contract, Steve Kerr finally agreed to a contract extension with the Warriors. The terms: Two years, $35 million, as team sources confirmed Friday night. ESPN was the first to report the deal.
Kerr is in his 10th season coaching the Warriors, having won four titles. He is the third-longest serving coach in the NBA, behind only Erik Spoelstra and Gregg Popovich. This contract makes him the second highest paid coach per season ($17.5 million), only behind Popovich.
Its reduced length is striking. Kerr’s contract now lines up exactly with Steph Curry’s deal. Curry has two years and $115.3 million left after this season. He will be 38 years old when he expires. Kerr’s extension sets him up to move beyond the Curry era, as the Warriors try to reposition themselves as title contenders before the window slams shut.
There was never much doubt that this deal would eventually come together. Majority owner Joe Lacob has kept public and private faith in Kerr and has maintained that he would pay what is necessary to retain him. Kerr has insisted that he intends to stay, showing no sign of burnout as a coach. He will also coach Team USA at the Olympic Games this summer. Curry is expected to participate in Paris.
The Warriors have had a turbulent season, defined by drama, underachievement and tragedy. Draymond Green’s suspensions put them in a spiral. They had a 19-24 record at their lowest point. Assistant coach Dejan Milojevic passed away at a team dinner in early January after suffering a heart attack, leaving the team reeling emotionally.
But the judicial product has improved recently. Green is back and performing well. Jonathan Kuminga has developed into a high-level power forward in his third season. Brandin Podziemski has been a revelation for the rookies. Klay Thompson recently accepted a spot on the bench. They have won nine of 11 and seem to be slowly moving up the standings. Now your coach has an extra level of security.
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(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)