Steve Kerr contract: Warriors coach reportedly becomes highest-paid in NBA with $35M extension

Agreeing to a two-year contract extension, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr solidifies his future with the team, securing a spot as the highest-paid head coach in the league with an annual salary of $17.5 million, as announced by the team on Tuesday.

Although Gregg Popovich exceeds this annual figure, it’s worth noting that he also serves as the president of the San Antonio Spurs.

Following Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, who recently inked an eight-year extension with the Miami Heat earlier this season, ranks as the league’s second-highest-paid coach with an annual salary of $15 million.

Kerr’s extension aligns with the Warriors’ commitment to their championship core, featuring Stephen Curry and Draymond Green under substantial contracts.

Curry, with a four-year, $215 million extension signed in 2021, remains with Golden State through 2026. Similarly, Green is in the initial year of his four-year, $100 million deal signed last summer.

While the team retains its core, uncertainties linger around Klay Thompson, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

Despite Thompson’s recent removal from the starting lineup due to a decline in production, the Warriors chose not to trade him at the deadline, expressing a potential interest in bringing him back, albeit at a salary potentially less than what he could command elsewhere.

Warriors’ majority owner Joe Lacob, expressing a desire to avoid the luxury tax, approved Kerr’s substantial contract extension, recognizing Kerr’s pivotal role in elevating the team following Mark Jackson’s departure in 2014.

Kerr’s impact on the Warriors is undeniable, marked by six Finals appearances and four championships, including the most recent triumph in 2022.

Notably, he transformed the team’s playing style, emphasizing ball and player movement, and reshaped Curry’s role to play off the ball, departing from Jackson’s matchup-focused system.

In recent seasons, Kerr faced challenges as the Warriors navigated staying competitive without their prior talent advantage.

The development of young players has yielded mixed results, with notable successes like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, alongside challenges such as James Wiseman’s struggles.

Despite the evolving dynamics, the Warriors, while not at their peak, remain a formidable force, exemplified by last season’s first-round upset over the Kings and their current strong performance, winning nine of their last 11 games leading into Friday’s play.