After losing out on Stan Van Gundy to the Detroit Pistons, Joe Lacob got his next best candidate.
Stunner: Steve Kerr spurns the Knicks, accepts Warriors’ head coach job. Story coming on http://t.co/tv9kc59jsI.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) May 15, 2014
Steve Kerr was presumed to be the next head coach of the New York Knicks after Phil Jackson took over as president of basketball operations. When the sides had failed to reach a deal (and Van Gundy left for Detroit), Joe Lacob put on the full-court press for Kerr. Joe Lacob, Bob Myers and Kirk Lacob flew to Oklahoma City on Tuesday to talk with Kerr as he was on location to call Clippers-Thunder Game 5. Kerr accepted the Warriors five-year offer the next day.
Steve Kerr has agreed to a 5 year, approximately $25 million deal with Golden State, source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 15, 2014
Joe Lacob (shockingly) is excited about the hire.
“We love Kerr. Incredibly prepared. We got him because of our players. The Golden State Warriors’ future is bright,” Joe Lacob says in text.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 15, 2014
“Bob (Myers) and Steve (Kerr) are going to be fantastic. I am ecstatic,” – Joe Lacob said.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 15, 2014
Lacob on Kerr: “Very bright. Very personable. Very, very prepared. I have always liked him… but he sold our group. Bob, Jerry, loved him” — Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 15, 2014
Joe Lacob also said in text that Steve Kerr is a “great organizational fit.” — Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 15, 2014
Kerr, 48, as never coached in the NBA and will suddenly take the helm of a playoff-ready roster that is coming off a 51-win season (47-35 the season before). He’s a five-time NBA champion with his time with the Chicago Bulls.
Mark Jackson was initially signed on for a three-year deal worth $6 million.