Written By Mauricio Segura // Photo: Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
OCT 15, 2025
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr finds himself entering a pivotal stretch of his coaching career. As the 2025–26 season begins, he is in the final year of a contract that ends after this upcoming season. According to a fresh report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater, however, it appears Kerr is signaling that this will not be the end for him in the Bay.
In a recent appearance on The Hoop Collective podcast, Slater laid out Kerr’s options: fall back, retire, or stay put with the Warriors, and he thinks staying is the most likely outcome. Kerr, now 60, would not be under contract beyond 2025–26 unless a new deal is struck, but insiders believe that the relationships Kerr has built in Golden State make a departure for another NBA job highly unlikely.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently weighed in on this uncertainty. When asked about Kerr entering his final contracted season, Dunleavy said the situation is unique. One year is technically left, but not all coaches in his position would be granted the flexibility Kerr is getting. “We’re going to give him the grace of the season to see and feel where he’s at mentally and physically,” Dunleavy remarked. While uncertainty exists, Dunleavy also noted he viewed Kerr as someone who can stay as long as he wants.
Kerr himself has addressed the matter with measured openness. He is clear that he does not intend to leave the Warriors for another coaching job. But he also refuses to make binding commitments before the season concludes. He has hinted that whether he remains in Golden State will depend on how the season unfolds and whether it feels right for all parties involved.
One of the more interesting angles here is how Kerr’s future aligns with the contracts of the Warriors’ core players. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are all signed through 2026–27. If Kerr does leave after this season, Golden State would face the rare scenario of losing both its longtime coach and part of its dynasty core in one swoop. On the other hand, staying might mean Kerr coaches through the final years of Curry, Green, and Butler, shepherding the end of an era with loyalty and continuity.
The front office seems intent on avoiding a rushed decision. Rather than negotiating an extension midseason, Golden State and Kerr appear content to let the body of work in 2025–26 guide the next move. That strategy gives Kerr breathing room to manage the roster, push for wins, and evaluate his energy and health without immediate pressure to commit.
What stands out here is that this potential turning point is being handled with respect and flexibility. Kerr is not being boxed into a corner. Rather, he is being given honor, the chance to decide what “ending well” looks like, whether that means coaching a few more seasons or walking away at his own pace.
Even as the spotlight turns toward each new preseason move, media hint, and locker-room nuance, the narrative behind the scenes is subtle. Kerr is not being forced out, but he also is not blindly staying. His next contract, or decision not to sign one, will be a choice, not a default.
For Warriors fans, this gives hope. The dynasty does not have to end abruptly. If Kerr returns, he will extend a familiar baton from one chapter to the next. If he steps away, he will do so on his terms, leaving a legacy that is tied to the team’s success and culture. Either way, the 2025–26 season becomes more than just another year. It is the turning point for the Golden State era under Steve Kerr.
