Can we please agree that the Golden State Warriors are a dream team for many basketball players?  Not just them, over the years, the team has given us reasons to stay hooked on the NBA, too. It’s not just about Stephen Curry or Draymond Green or Klay Thompson. Every season, the Dubs have something new to offer to the audience, and maybe a large part of the credits should go to their HC Steve Kerr. In his 10 years of coaching the Warriors, Kerr has brought four championships to the team. Well, who else has done that in recent times? No one.

Now, an ex-Warrior has given us a little glimpse of what it’s like to work under Coach Kerr. Sharing his thoughts on The Young Man and The Three podcast, Donte DiVincenzo talked about the franchise’s culture and style. Steve Kerr coached the Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard in the 2022/23 season, so DiVincenzo has experienced the Golden State hype firsthand.

“I don’t think there’s this secret recipe they’re doing, but just the style of play they have makes a lot of guys successful,” the former Dubs player said.  He further added: “I think there are certain organizations that you can just go to and play a certain style. That makes guys look really good. And I think Golden State’s that. If you can flourish in that kind of chaos of what they do, I got so many open looks that I never thought I would get.”

Moreover, Donte got to play alongside the likes of Draymond Green and Stephen Curry during his Dubs era. So, you cannot say that these big names, including Steve Kerr, did not impact his resume. It’s not easy to understand why the Knicks considered giving the shooting guard a $46 million contract for four years. However, the Knicks stint didn’t last long, and he moved to the Wolves.

Meanwhile, Steve Kerr’s strategies for long-term signings, undrafted players, and two-way players might have a greater and much more serious side to what we see. Well, everything has to be done with the cost cap in mind. So, Coach Kerr has a lot of reasons to be a bit concerned, if not a lot. However, the front offices of the other teams have more reasons to break a sweat because of Kerr’s boys.

The NBA GMs need to find a cure to their headaches as Steve Kerr’s graduates keep landing on massive deals

Donte DiVincenzo’s ten months with the Warriors got him a four-year contract of $46 million with the New York Knicks. Well, it’s not too difficult to understand that being a trainee or player under Steve Kerr does have an impact on the resumes. This also means that the hoopers’ market valuation automatically spikes up, thus pinching the pockets of the GMs of other teams.

Meanwhile, Steve Kerr’s once-upon-a-time star boy Jordan Poole is set to earn $128 million for four years at the Washington Wizards. With a salary cap of $140 million,  Poole is the highest-paid ($29M) hooper on the team. Thus, you cannot completely deny the fact that this has to be a GSW effect or a  Coach Kerr effect. The hooper who was earning $3.9M a season is now being paid $29 million? Such miracles surely don’t happen overnight!

The Warriors’ rising talent is leaving NBA GMs concerned. First, the Dubs players keep signing big deals with big teams and franchises with monetary crunches barely have options left. This is also a matter of concern if you look at it closely. Undoubtedly, all teams would want a player who’s played alongside Steph Curry. This reminds us of Klay Thompson‘s $50M deal with the Mavs. And he’s a Warriors veteran, so his value was sure to skyrocket!

The Golden State Warriors have become a breeding ground for talent that attracts high-value contracts across the NBA. Steve Kerr’s coaching and the Warriors’ style boost players like Donte DiVincenzo and Jordan Poole even after they leave. This “Warriors effect” has changed the market dynamics, with Kerr’s players consistently landing lucrative deals. As long as the Warriors continue to produce stars, NBA General Managers will face tough competition—and rising costs—to bring these players onto their teams.