"There's a rage there, and he can control it, but he wants to win at everything he does" - Stacey King speaks on Kerr's demeanor

“There’s a rage there, and he can control it, but he wants to win at everything he does” – Stacey King speaks on Kerr’s demeanor originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The Steve Kerr that many fans see today is a diplomatic, witty and charming man who manages to put on a brave face even after tough losses by the Golden State Warriors. However, for all his candor and composure, a fierce competitor is lying just beneath the surface.

According to former teammate Stacey King, who played with Kerr during their time with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s, there is a fire and determination within the sharpshooting guard that drives him to succeed at all costs.

In fact, King experienced this firsthand in the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals showdown between the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers when Kerr didn’t back down against him when he laid Danny Ferry out with a hard foul in Game 5.

Kerr immediately came to his teammate’s defense

With a spot in the 1992 NBA Finals on the line, things between the Bulls and the Cavs became chippy. While the competition was already fierce, things reached a boiling point in Game 4 when Cavs forward Ferry decked Michael Jordan twice.

Retribution came swiftly in the very next game when King delivered a hard foul on Ferry, striking him from behind as Danny drove to the basket. Witnessing the incident, Kerr — then playing for Cleveland — immediately charged toward King to confront him, clearly angered by the unsportsmanlike act. The 6’11” Stacey was visibly taken aback by the intensity and fearlessness of the 6’3″ Steve.

“Here he is, the smallest dude on the floor, and he’s in my face,” Stacey remembered. “I literally grabbed him by the throat, like, Dude, I will kill you.”

While King did not divulge the things Kerr told him, he did share that Steve was “calling me all kinds of names,” names that he recalled were downright “bush league.”

A rage within

Ironically, Kerr and King became teammates the following season. It was then that the big man got to know the perimeter marksman a little better. Yes, Steve was smart and a joy to be around. However, Stacey learned he had a mean streak that he didn’t hesitate to show when necessary.

“He’s got a hidden temper,” King exclaimed. “All of us have tempers, but you don’t expect it from a guy like him, a guy who’s articulate, a guy who’s so even-keeled. When you watch him and talk to him, he’s got a great sense of humor, he has a great understanding of society, things that are going on in the world.”

“He’s very intelligent, but beneath all that,” he continued. “Man, I tell you, there’s a competitive nature. There’s a rage there, and he can control it, but he wants to win at everything he does. It’s like a chihuahua thinking he’s a rottweiler. You can’t tell him he’s not a rottweiler.”

For all intents and purposes, Kerr has always been and always will be a nice guy. However, nobody should ever make the mistake of thinking he’s a pushover. As someone who took a punch from MJ and lived to tell about it, Steve has proven he’s a ferocious competitor who won’t back down from anyone at any time.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.

“There’s a rage there, and he can control it, but he wants to win at everything he does” – Stacey King speaks on Kerr’s demeanor

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