If there is one lesson to be learned today it’s that persistence pays off. After believing Steve Kerr was pretty much a lock to sign with the New York Knicks, the Warriors decided to fly to Oklahoma City and meet with Kerr to try and make him to reconsider. Warriors’ management must have delivered a great pitch because Kerr has spurned Phil Jackson and the Knicks and has agreed to become the Warriors’ head coach.
Kerr was in negotiation with the Knicks, but the two sides were not able to come to an agreement. This gave the Warriors enough time to convince Kerr that the Warriors were his best option to make his coaching debut. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Warriors have given Kerr a five-year deal worth $25 million:
Sources: Steve Kerr spurns New York, takes $25 million deal with Golden State. http://t.co/HA7TUUDnLq — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 15, 2014
The Warriors landing Kerr is quite a surprise, giving the Warriors their top choice. The Warriors wanted Kerr and were aggressive, but they were also motivated by the hiring of Stan Van Gundy by the Detroit Pistons. Kerr and Van Gundy were the top two options for the Warriors and with Van Gundy agreeing in principle with the Pistons, the Warriors shifted all their focus to Kerr.
Kerr has been one of the more sought after coaching candidates and although he has no coaching experience, he definitely brings in a wealth of knowledge. As a former player, executive, and current broadcaster, Kerr brings a unique perspective to the job. He learned from Gregg Popovich and Jackson, two of the greatest coaches of all time. Most importantly, he brings five championship rings to a team who could be contending for NBA championships for years to come.