'There's no Steph without Steve': Steph Curry and Steve Kerr reflect on 11 seasons together

STEVE KERR BOARDED a red-eye formation backmost to the Bay Area connected Dec. 25, 2016, and confronted what helium present calls the biggest regret of his 11 years coaching Stephen Curry.

Business had ruined the Golden State Warriors' holiday. They had blown a 14-point fourth-quarter pb to the aforesaid Cleveland Cavaliers who had ripped their hearts retired successful Game 7 of the NBA Finals six months prior.

In the heated aftermath, Kerr voiced his vexation astir the Warriors' deficiency of shot security, specifically calling retired his prima constituent guard. Kerr said Curry "could beryllium a small smarter." It became a ascendant postgame talking point. Kerr cracked unfastened his computer, saw the header and cringed.

"What americium I doing?" Kerr remembered reasoning successful the darkness. "I instantly knew."

Both the soundbite and the discourse down it stung Curry. His behind-the-back turnover precocious successful Game 7 had go a summertime punchline -- the trophy photoshopped implicit the hoops to signify him throwing the title away.

This remark reopened a coiled astatine a clip erstwhile the Warriors, present the sport's villains aft signing Kevin Durant, were a nationalist punching bag. It fueled the fire. Curry had friends and household substance him with fundamentally the aforesaid message: "Why would helium accidental that?"

"I bash retrieve that episode," Curry said astir 9 years later. "The forbidden misdeed of coaching -- erstwhile you retired players successful the media."

The level landed and Kerr sent Curry a text. He asked if helium could halt by Curry's location the adjacent day, and Curry gave him the greenish light. Kerr showed up. He acknowledged helium screwed up. Then they discussed the request for Curry to worth the shot much portion besides upping his scoring aggression.

"Typical Steph fashion," Kerr said. "You conscionable sat down and discussed things. He's specified a grown-up. He has specified spot successful my intentions."

They went 56-10 from that constituent and steamrolled to a 2nd NBA rubric together.

"The information that helium acted close distant to travel person a speech [is what mattered]," Curry said. "We're each conscionable trying to win. As agelong arsenic you tin conscionable connected that, that energy, you should beryllium capable to enactment done beauteous overmuch whatever."

Kerr and Curry are entering their 12th NBA play together, 3 much than Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan and 2 much than Red Auerbach and Bill Russell.

They've been to six Finals, won 4 titles, accomplished Olympic gold, suffered done a 15-50 pandemic season, rebuilt themselves into a contender, watched the two-timeline program sputter, seen franchise pillars specified arsenic Durant, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala depart and inactive judge they -- on with Draymond Green -- person different palmy section to write.

"There's a crushed [Tom] Brady and [Bill] Belichick worked," Kerr said. "There's a crushed Phil and Michael worked. It has to click. There has to beryllium a communal respect and determination has to beryllium a fierce, competitory desire. Passion for the job. Passion for winning. When each is said and done, it mightiness beryllium the astir arrogant happening that exists. The astir arrogant dynamic of my vocation volition beryllium a collaboration with Steph."

Curry has 2 much seasons connected his existent contract. Kerr, who is not seeking an in-season extension, lone has 1 twelvemonth left. The question is presented to Curry: Could helium play for different coach?

"I played for Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] doubly astatine the satellite championships," Curry said. "Mark Jackson. Keith Smart."

Curry took the question literally. Could he? Yes.

"The crippled would translate," helium said.

But would he?

"I don't privation to," Curry said. "We merit that, I feel. Things alteration successful this league. We tin lone power truthful much. But I deliberation we're successful a precise unsocial concern that we merit the accidental [to thrust it out]."

KERR FIRST CROSSED paths with...