Despite Jimmy Butler's devastating season-ending injury, Kerr is convinced that Steph Curry remains committed to running it back with Golden State.
The Golden State Warriors find themselves standing in a peculiar position.
The vibes were already immaculate for the Dubs as they've been playing their best basketball this season, until an unfortunate franchise-altering blow happened last Monday.
In just the blink of an eye, the Warriors' hopes to keep their fading dynasty alive instantly disappeared as Jimmy Butler sustained a torn ACL injury in his right knee. The star forward is set to undergo surgery and will be out until next year.
With Butler sidelined indefinitely, Golden State's chase for its fifth title in 11 years is basically gone. And even if Butler manages to return, doubts are high if he can still play at an elite level, as he'll turn 37 in September.
Out of what happened, fans are wondering if the clock is ticking already for Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Some are pushing for the Warriors to trade the superstar guard and let Golden State kickstart a new era.
But from the perspective of Steve Kerr, it's difficult to envision the franchise superstar leaving and abandoning Golden State despite their brutal circumstances.
"Every player, every coach, we live our own lives and then we come to work and try to help the team win," the Warriors coach said on 95.7 The Game's Willard and Dibs show. "That's our job. I would say that the vast majority of us, if not all of us, love what we do. When stuff like this happens, maybe fans think of existential questions. I think on the inside, we think about our lives and ask if we are enjoying what we are doing. Do we enjoy who we are working with? Why would we wanna leave that?
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler
MIN: 31.1
PTS: 20 (65.24%)
REB: 5.58
AS: 4.87
ST: 1.45
BL: 0.21
TO: 1.58
GM: 38
"Take Steph, for example. Think of the life Steph has in the Bay Area. Think of what he has meant to the Warriors and vice versa. I can't imagine he's there and thinking, 'I gotta get outta here, Jimmy got hurt.’ I haven't talked to him about it, but I would be shocked if that were on his mind.
"I think everybody loves it here. We love this organization, we love working together, and the plan is we move forward and we keep pushing, competing and see what we can do."
Curry serves as the heart and soul of the Warriors. For as long as he's in the Golden State, the Warriors will compete until the very end.
But as it is, Butler's injury downfall is a critical game-changer for the Dubs. The Warriors went all in last year just to acquire Butler, as they view him as an instrumental bridge for them to win it all again. But now, the team's remaining championship window is on the brink of closure without its second-best player.
It remains to be seen how Curry and the rest of the Dubs will approach the uphill climb ahead. But as far as his future in the Golden State, Kerr insisted that he will continue guiding the Warriors.
"I love my job, I love this job," he said. "It is so fun, it's so challenging. There's so many factors and circumstances that come up. In a leadership role, your job is to help every person along and help them enjoy their journey. Hopefully, all those journeys combined for a really good result for the team.
"When you've done this long enough, you realize that every year is different and you have to roll with the changes and make the best of every set of circumstances."
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