Do Warriors Fans Hate Steve Kerr? Exploring the Complex Relationship After 9X NBA Champions Confession

Throughout the years, Steve Kerr has been quite protective of his players. Be it Steph, Klay, or even KD in the past, Kerr never pushed their limits to the extreme. Of course, there have been times when Steph and Klay have been on fire but called early to allow bench players to take over. It’s a practice preferred by the best coaches to keep their stars healthy for the next one. On the other hand, fans demand otherwise, as they did in the exhibition game against Serbia. Following the dominant victory over the Serbians in Abu Dhabi, fans wished for more Curry action.

Steph dropped 24 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the range. This performance was joined by ANT‘s 16 points, but as it was Curry’s night, it seemed only fair to see him play more than 22 minutes. Now, Steve Kerr has known Steph for a decade. Throughout his ups and downs, he’s ensured that the greatest shooter of all time doesn’t suffer from fatigue. But this may have enraged Dub Nation, just like in the Bay. Every time Steve pulls Curry out of the game while he’s building momentum, it isn’t something likable from the fans’ perspective.

But the Warriors fans can’t hate Steve Kerr. He’s one of the best coaches in history who has been part of a dynasty that won four titles. Naturally, there is going to be some hype from the fans to see Steph drain a few more shots before he calls it a night. However, when it comes to hate, there might be some negativity coming from Team USA fans. It is only the exhibition games, and Kerr’s focus is on the defensive end, as it should be. Steph, Bron, AD, ANT, and others are obviously the primary scorers. Consequently, the head coach need not worry about getting buckets. But keeping the majority of the focus on defense only makes sense.

On the other hand, Kerr’s Big 3, Steph, James, and Embiid have caught a lot of attention. Fans were not happy with his trio. And many are surprised to hear of this combination, especially from someone like Steve Kerr. ANT and AD are the favorites to replace Embiid, but the coach’s decision stays firm. So, the hate is not necessarily from the Warriors fans but also from Team USA supporters to some extent. Steph on the other hand will play more minutes as soon as the Group stage tips off.

Steve Kerr’s Big 3 may need some changes indeed

As long as KD is not active, Steph, LeBron, and Embiid are Kerr’s top three players on the squad. While Joel hasn’t coped up to international standards, he is certainly trying his best. The former MVP seems to be relying a lot on foul calls. However, it doesn’t work so easily in such games. Embiid has also been injury-prone for the past year, and starting him as a primary player wouldn’t be a great option. Anthony Davis could be a great replacement in Kerr’s Big 3, along with Anthony Edwards.

Both players are efficient scorers and equally well defenders. This squad is not only about the veterans taking command but also about youngsters like ANT getting the exact same opportunity to contribute. Steve Kerr has a lot of options when modifying his rotations and it will be interesting to see whether he looks to make any changes in the starting lineups come Group stage.

What are your thoughts on Warriors and Team USA fans upset with Kerr? Do you think he should let Steph play more minutes? Let us know in the comments.