In the summer of 2014, Steve Kerr stood at a crossroads in his career. After spending years as a television analyst following his front-office stint with the Phoenix Suns, he was presented with an opportunity to return to the NBA—not behind a microphone, but on the sidelines as a head coach. He had job offers from two teams: the struggling New York Knicks, led by his former coach and mentor Phil Jackson, and the Golden State Warriors, a talented but underachieving squad that had recently parted ways with Mark Jackson. Kerr ultimately chose Golden State, a decision he later admitted changed the trajectory of his life. What he may not have fully realized at the time, however, was that it wasn’t just the Warriors organization that would shape his future—it was Stephen Curry who would come to define it.
The Warriors had a strong core in 2014—Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and of course, Curry. They had shown promise, making playoff appearances, but had failed to break into true contention. While Mark Jackson deserves credit for instilling toughness and belief into the group, there was a sense that the team needed a fresh voice and a more modern system. Kerr brought that and more, introducing a free-flowing offense predicated on ball movement, spacing, and a selfless style of play that would eventually revolutionize the league. But none of that could have worked without Curry’s complete buy-in.
Curry had just emerged from seasons of injury concerns and was beginning to earn recognition as one of the league’s elite shooters. But he hadn’t yet fully ascended to superstardom. Kerr saw in Curry not just a talent, but a system-changing presence. He reimagined Curry’s role, putting the ball in his hands more often, encouraging movement without the ball, and creating layers of offense that allowed Curry to become both the initiator and the finisher. The result was a perfect marriage of strategy and skill, where Kerr’s concepts unlocked Curry’s full potential—and Curry’s talent, in turn, validated Kerr’s vision.
What makes their partnership unique isn’t just success; it’s how that success came about. Curry didn’t resist Kerr’s coaching, even when changes challenged his habits. He welcomed criticism, embraced adjustments, and leaned into the team-first mentality Kerr emphasized. For a head coach, especially a first-time head coach like Kerr, earning the trust of your star player is the most important step. In Curry, Kerr found not just a superstar but a willing collaborator, someone who set the tone for the rest of the roster. That dynamic allowed Kerr to coach freely, implement his system without ego clashes, and demand accountability from the entire team, knowing Curry would lead by example.
Curry’s selflessness made coaching in Golden State a rare gift. When your best player doesn’t chase individual accolades, doesn’t throw teammates under the bus, and doesn’t flex power to undermine the coaching staff, it creates an environment where everyone feels empowered and valued. Kerr has often said that coaching Curry made his job easier. In reality, it saved his job—before it ever came under real threat. Had Kerr taken the Knicks job, he likely would have inherited a less talented roster, been swallowed by organizational dysfunction, and ended up fired within a few years. But with Curry in Golden State, Kerr was given something most coaches never get: time, support, and a generational player who could execute and elevate his philosophy.
The Warriors won the NBA title in Kerr’s first year. Curry won MVP. It was the kind of storybook start that very few coaches ever experience. But it wasn’t luck. It was the result of a perfect alignment between coach and player. Kerr’s system enhanced Curry’s gifts, and Curry’s gifts made Kerr’s system sing. They built on that success, going 73–9 the following season and reaching five straight NBA Finals. Even with the addition of Kevin Durant, it was Curry who remained the heartbeat of the team, and it was Kerr who continued to cultivate a culture of joy, trust, and discipline.
What set Curry apart, and what preserved Kerr’s longevity, was a consistency of character. Curry never let success change his approach. He remained coachable, stayed hungry, and never demanded the spotlight. That gave Kerr a rare luxury in the NBA: he could actually coach. He could push his players without fear of blowback. He could experiment without his job hanging in the balance after every loss. And through it all, he had a point guard who served as both a tactical weapon and a cultural compass.
There’s a long-standing comparison between Curry’s impact on Kerr and Michael Jordan’s impact on Phil Jackson. Jordan famously elevated Jackson’s coaching career, taking a smart but unproven coach and turning him into a legend. Curry has done the same for Kerr. Though their personalities are different—Jordan was fiery and hyper-competitive, Curry is joyful and resilient—the effect is strikingly similar. Without Jordan, Jackson may never have become an all-time great. Without Curry, Kerr might still be in a TV studio, analyzing someone else’s team.
Kerr has admitted as much. He’s been candid in saying that Curry’s presence changed his career path. If he had started his coaching journey elsewhere, things might have gone very differently. Coaching success in the NBA often hinges less on knowledge than on circumstances. Even the brightest minds can fail if they don’t have the right players. Kerr was smart, no doubt, but smart coaches get fired all the time. What kept Kerr in Golden State wasn’t just his ideas—it was the fact that Curry turned those ideas into reality.
That reality included not just championships, but a lasting legacy. Curry didn’t just help Kerr win; he helped him build something enduring. Through injuries, roster changes, and even the departure of stars like Durant, Kerr remained. And so did Curry. When the Warriors won their fourth title under Kerr in 2022, with Curry finally earning a Finals MVP, it cemented not just the player’s greatness but the coach’s resilience. And at the heart of it all was the trust between the two.
Even as the Warriors aged and the roster shifted, Kerr’s respect for Curry never wavered. And Curry’s faith in Kerr remained unshaken. That kind of mutual loyalty is rare in today’s NBA, where coaching jobs are precarious and player movement is constant. Curry’s presence gave Kerr something priceless: stability. When the Warriors faced difficult seasons, including missing the playoffs in 2020 and 2021, it would have been easy for the organization to make changes. But Curry’s presence, leadership, and continued belief in Kerr protected the coach from the kind of scrutiny that would have undone many others.
Curry didn’t just score points or win games; he shifted the culture. He brought joy back to basketball. He made the game fun again, not just for fans, but for his teammates and his coach. Kerr has said that the Warriors’ style of play—with its emphasis on movement, sharing the ball, and playing with joy—isn’t possible without Curry. It’s not just about talent; it’s about willingness. Curry was willing to play the right way, to prioritize the team, and to trust the system. That willingness turned a good team into a great one and a good coach into a Hall of Famer.
When the story of the Golden State dynasty is written in full, Steph Curry will rightly be at the center of it. His shooting changed the game. His demeanor changed the locker room. And his presence changed Steve Kerr’s life. Coaches often don’t get to choose their stars. Kerr was fortunate to inherit one who not only respected him but enhanced him. That’s why when Kerr speaks of Curry, he does so with reverence. He knows that without Curry, his coaching career might have ended before it truly began.
In the end, this isn’t just a story of a coach finding the right player. It’s the story of a player lifting a coach into greatness. Just as Jordan gave Phil Jackson his platform, Curry gave Kerr his legacy. Kerr provided the framework, the belief, and the balance. Curry brought the brilliance. Together, they created one of the most joyful and effective dynasties in NBA history. And if Kerr has reached the pantheon of great coaches, it’s because Curry opened the door, handed him the blueprint, and walked through it with him—every step of the way.
