And in the microcosm of professional basketball, Steph Curry and Steve Kerr created a relationship that changed the game forever. Their collective work has been nothing short of transformational. Their collaborative story over the last more than ten years first started when Kerr was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. It was during this process that he first met Curry. At this point, Curry was already creating a storm as the 5-foot-9 talented sophomore at Davidson College.
After a year in the front office, in 2014 Kerr became head coach of the Golden State Warriors. This was the pivotal moment in the team’s story. This would be the start of an era that would change the franchise and ultimately the direction of the entire NBA. As both men reflect on their time together, they acknowledge how their unique bond has been integral to their mutual success.
Early Encounters and Future Aspirations
Steve Kerr’s introduction to Steph Curry came in November 2007. Kerr saw his first possible glimpse of the generational talent Curry could turn into at a Davidson game against UCLA in Anaheim, California. Kerr understood Curry’s extraordinary gifts from the start and traded up to get him in the 2009 NBA Draft. He even contemplated trading Amar’e Stoudemire to get Curry with the seventh pick. Sadly, that plan couldn’t be realized.
Kerr’s vision of what Curry could do was vindicated a year later when, after a solid, 51-win season, the Warriors pulled the trigger on a pretty bold move. When team governor Joe Lacob controversially fired popular head coach Mark Jackson in May 2014, a move that would ultimately clear the way for Kerr to be recruited, Kerr received a lot of acclaim for the way he operated as an owner. He agreed that the bold move to commit to the new station ultimately laid the groundwork for their long-term success.
Of course, Kerr understood the profound connection that Curry and other Warriors had with Jackson. Undeterred and intent on creating new relationships, he persevered with expansion plans. Perhaps most importantly, he appreciated the power of simple, straightforward messaging. So, he wasted no time in calling dinner with Curry as soon as he touched down in San Francisco.
“Everybody. But you take Steph out of this, none of this has happened.” – Steve Kerr
Building Trust and Communication
Kerr’s hands-on and proactive approach even carried over to sending Curry a text after he landed in town. The next day, he visited Curry’s home for lunch with the star player, his wife Ayesha, and their daughter Riley in Berkeley. This meeting was an important foundational step in building trust and respect between the coach and player.
A week later, another significant discussion emerged from Pebble Beach. This ice-breaking conversation laid the groundwork for what would go on to be a storied collaboration. Kerr had already experienced the pressure of what his new gig entailed. He knew that the organization and its players were counting on him to meet their expectations.
Curry praised Kerr’s personalized approach, saying, “He’s the only coach I’ve ever had to write handwritten letters. This feeling was the foundation of Kerr’s dedication to building an authentic connection with his players. He went so far as to write two letters to Curry. One of them was from his brother, Seth, which was especially meaningful to Steph given Seth’s introverted character.
Navigating Challenges and Growth
Yet, as their partnership grew and developed, they encountered difficulties that would challenge their perseverance. After several lackadaisical performances in which the Warriors were careless with the ball, Kerr took Curry to task. In fact, he went out of his way to single out his standout point guard for having to do better on this front.
“Hell no. That was a terrible decision. You got to coach me.” – Steph Curry
That frank conversation served as a window into their relationship. It displayed both transparency and admiration. Kerr’s leadership style appealed to Curry, who understood that candor was necessary to improve.
Perhaps just as important, Kerr highlighted the collaborative work needed to achieve success. The rest of us did our part, he noted, recognizing that, much like a high performance team on the court, real impact comes with a strong collaboration.
Leave a Reply