May 14 marked the 10th anniversary of Steve Kerr's arrival on the Warriors bench. At the time, landing Mark Jackson wasn't such an obvious choice, as the former coach had the trust of Stephen Curry and they reached the conference semifinals in 2013.
But Bob Myers had decided to enlist the services of Steve Kerr in the spring of 2014. Everyone knows what happened next: as a rookie coach, Steve Kerr obtained the best record in the history of the franchise (which he would beat the following year…), Stephen Curry exploded and became MVP while the Warriors are heading towards the title.
And a particular quality of Steve Kerr, who will coach Team USA this summer, impressed Bob Myers during this 2014/15 season.
” His cool “, reveals Bob Myers. “I say this because as the season and the playoffs progress, you need that leadership around the coach – and that composure in the group – and I remember personally experiencing the 2015 NBA playoffs with him. People think that in these high-pressure moments they will get through it, they say, 'I'm made for this.' I don't even know what that means. There are very few people made for this kind of pressure. Being by his side and seeing Steve’s composure in 2015…”
Player experience at the service of the coach
If the playoffs were a first as a coach, Steve Kerr already knew this period of the season very well, having won three titles with Michael Jordan's Bulls and two others with the Spurs as a player.
“This guy scored a huge basket (in the 1997 Finals victory) with Michael Jordan passing the ball to him,” recalls the former GM, now a TV consultant. “I would have sent a brick in his place. It takes a lot of courage, which he achieved as a player. »
This is the type of player experience that can help calm and guide a group when you become a coach.
“The organization and I saw him lead calmly in the playoffs… And I think that for the players, when they get to the Finals, everything goes to a higher level. For players who have never been to this level before, seeing it through Steve's eyes, whether it's in rallies, shooting sessions, there's no one better than Steve to say, 'OK. That's what we're going to do.' And you believe him because he's been there. »
But Bob Myers also notes that while Steve Kerr knows how to remain calm under pressure, he is not the overwhelming type with those around him, and that this was valuable to him on a daily basis.
“He has such strength of character. But as a partner, if I'm being selfish, I would say that just having someone who I respect and who is decent by my side every day – that's hard to find. The coaches are different. So having a quality person by my side was incredible.”
