Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Chase Center.
The Golden State Warriors’ win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday also marked the end of an assistant coach’s time with the team.
Golden State beat Brooklyn, 120-107, with Steph Curry dropping 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting, along with two rebounds, five assists and one steal. Jimmy Butler added 21 points, five boards, four dimes and a steal in the victory.
After the game, however, much of the focus was on assistant coach Chris DeMarco, who coached the Warriors for the final time.
DeMarco had been with the Warriors since 2012, serving in a variety of roles — including as an assistant coach and player development coach — as the team transitioned from Mark Jackson’s time to the Steve Kerr era.
However, DeMarco is now embarking on a new journey after the WNBA’s New York Liberty hired him as their next head coach. The Big Apple franchise had an opening after severing ties with head coach Sandy Brondello just a year after she led the team to a championship.
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco
“Thank you, CD, for over a decade of greatness,” the Warriors wrote in a post after the Warriors-Nets game. The team also included a video of the players giving DeMarco a water-bottle shower in the locker room.
“Tonight, we say farewell to Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco and wish him the best of luck as the NEW Head Coach of @nyliberty.”
The Liberty’s decision to hire DeMarco is not surprising, especially considering his championship pedigree. He’s part of the Warriors’ four title wins, and he brings that much-needed experience to a New York team that faces constant pressure to deliver and win championships.
As for the Warriors, they will now have to move on without a trusted assistant coach. The Dubs are currently in the thick of the playoff race in the West.