Steve Kerr’s Advice to Younger Self: Just Coach Stephen Curry After Latter Crosses 26,000 Points

Steve Kerr has watched Stephen Curry grow from a much-doubted guard to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.

Steve Kerr’s Advice to Younger Self: Just Coach Stephen Curry After Latter Crosses 26,000 Points

Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr (Image via FirstSportz)

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Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors were an up-and-coming team when Mark Jackson was leading them. Then, after Steve Kerr joined as their head coach, the franchise took off to become the most dominant team of the past decade.

Four NBA championships and attempts to win a couple more, along with the current single-season win-loss record, has no doubt made them the team to beat.

In this journey, their most important player has also managed to vault himself to be known as one of the all-time greats. His two league MVP awards, his lone Finals MVP trophy, and some individual records have managed to set him apart.

Steve Kerr has often credited Stephen Curry for helping him enjoy the success he has as a head coach. Before they took on the Toronto Raptors to possibly win their fourth-consecutive game, a reporter asked the 60-year-old if he had any advice for his younger self.

Just coach Stephen Curry if you get a chance. Stay with that guy.

Steve Kerr replied

This answer sent the entire media room into a bout of laughter, as they knew what he was implying. The former shooting guard said this as he knew that without the assistance of most of Curry’s 26,000 career points, he would not be listed as one of the greatest coaches in league history.

Steve Kerr might have unlocked ways to utilize the Akron native’s skills to the fullest, but without Stephen Curry’s ability to shoot the ball under any circumstance and run around confusing opponents, the Warriors would not have the success they have enjoyed.

Stephen Curry’s error cost Warriors 4th straight win

Steve Kerr said this before their road game in Toronto. They knew they had to keep winning if they were to continue their surge up the Western Conference ladder.

For most of the game, it felt as if Stephen Curry and his teammates were about to get the job done, as they held a lead until 45 seconds were left in the fourth quarter.

By then, the Toronto Raptors, who had started to stage a comeback through Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, tied the game, placing the pressure on the visitors.

The all-time leading three-point scorer had a chance to seal the win with a trademark long-range shot that tends to end all the confidence their opponents had. But he missed, and even after Brandin Podziemski managed to score, Scottie Barnes made sure his Raptors were level. Then, with seconds to go, Stephen Curry had the ball in his hands and tried to create space.

While trying to do so, he hit Jamal Shead with the ball on his head and was instantly called for an offensive foul. Had that not happened, the game would not have gone to overtime, where Curry and his teammates could not match the Raptors’ energy.

Scottie Barnes’ career night breaks Warriors’ 3-game winning streak

Once the game went to overtime, it was evident that it was the Toronto Raptors who had the edge over their opponents. Stephen Curry and his aging Warriors teammates did not have the energy to keep up with their young opponents.

Scottie Barnes' career night helped Raptors win over Warriors
Scottie Barnes’ career night helped Raptors win over Warriors (Image via Sleeper Raptors/X)

Brandon Ingram continued to score from mid-range, while Scottie Barnes, deputizing at center for the injured Jakob Poeltl, excelled at outrebounding the entire Warriors’ starting five on his own.

His 25 total rebounds matched a franchise record, but when he added his 10 assists and 23 points, it was enough for the Raptors fans inside Scotiabank Arena to go wild.

The 24-year-old joins Nikola Jokic as the only players in the past four decades to 20+ points, 25+ rebounds, and 10+ assists in a game. Quite the feat for an All-Star who many do not place in the same echelon as some of the best in the game.

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