In the NBA, a few arguments can never be settled. There is ‘who’s better’ while comparing players of different eras. There is ‘Top-5/Top-10’, ‘All-Time Starting Five,’ and then, of course, the GOAT debate. These arguments have bothered players, fans, and analysts alike. Steve Kerr was the most recent victim of the same.
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The Warriors’ Head Coach joins various Dubs podcasts throughout the season, where he answers questions about the team and himself. While he’s a regular at 95.7’s “Damon and Ratto“, this week he joined ‘Dubs Talk’ with Dalton Johnson.
They talked about various topics, from Steve Kerr’s future, to playing with Michael Jordan and coaching Stephen Curry, and then obviously, his starting five from his former teammates. While most names on Kerr’s list weren’t a shocker, he did surprise us with one.
Steve Kerr found a Stephen Curry-type player for his starting five
Over his 15-year NBA career, Steve Kerr played with some of the best names in the game. He started his career with the Suns. Kerr played one season in Phoenix, before he was traded to the Cavaliers. He joined the Magic in 1992, where he played with Shaquille O’Neal. In 1993, he joined the Bulls, right after MJ retired. After winning three championships with the Bulls, Kerr went to the Spurs, where he won two more rings.
When asked to list his all-time five from his former teammates, the Warriors’ HC said,
“Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Shaq — I played with him in Orlando for several months — and Mark Price.”
Mark Price’s selection had Johnson confused. He asked Steve Kerr to elaborate on the same, and he did just the same, comparing him to Stephen Curry.
“Mark was incredible,” Kerr told Johnson. “He was one of the first guys that I had ever seen that could shoot 3-pointers off the dribble and off the catch really well, and was just so dynamic with the ball in his hands. He was actually a lot like Steph in that you had to pick him up well beyond the 3-point line … and this was in an era where 3-pointers weren’t really emphasized.”
“Mark was probably taking four or five [3-pointers] a game. If he played today and he were taking 15 to 20 threes a game, as strong and fast as he was, and just how dynamic he was, he’d be an All-Star every year.”
Kerr refused to pick a coach for his all-time five
While Steve Kerr didn’t waste any time in picking his players, he was very reluctant to name a coach for his team. Over his career, Steve was coached by some incredible talents like Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Lute Olson, and Lenny Wilkens.
When asked to pick a coach from these four, Kerr said,
“I will respectfully decline to answer that question. I don’t think any of them would care, actually, but they would all be just fine coaching that group.”
Kerr has done just fine as a head coach himself. Taking over the Warriors’ reins in 2014, Kerr has led them to four championships in eight seasons. His ninth campaign has been injury-riddled, but the team is hoping that they find their way soon.
