Head coach Steve Kerr couldn’t lead the Golden State Warriors past the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Although the Warriors built a sizeable lead early in the game, they couldn’t sustain it and suffered a 110-107 loss. At one point during the game, Kerr was seen yelling at rookie Will Richard after turning the ball over.
Late in the first quarter, Richard stole the ball, igniting a fastbreak opportunity. He ran ahead of the ball while Brandin Podziemski threw an outlet pass. However, Podziemski’s pass was too strong that the rookie had to chase after the ball.
Advertisement
By the time he caught the ball, he was near the baseline and couldn’t get a shot to go. He threw a behind-the-back pass, hoping that Podziemski was there to catch it. Unfortunately for Richard, he turned the ball over.
Kerr was furious over the play, and he yelled at the youngster.
Steve Kerr Admits His Regret For His Interaction With Will Richard
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center.John Hefti-Imagn Images
(John Hefti-Imagn Images)
After the contest, Kerr was asked about his thoughts on his animated exchange with the first-year player.
Advertisement
“Well, I thought he could’ve caught the ball — it was a bad pass from BP. BP should’ve made a good pass, Will’s gotta dunk, turns into a five-point swing,” Kerr said.
According to the Warriors coach, he thought that the rookie could’ve caught the ball better. He also said that he thought Richard was trying to do a fancy pass, which he admitted could be wrong. While it wasn’t the reason for their tough loss, Kerr thought that the bad play from the two young players was the start of their errors.
Advertisement
“I was upset with him, but I kind of regret losing my composure a little bit there,” he added. “Because it’s my job to keep the guys going. Especially when we’re when without so many players.”
Kerr doubled down on the Warriors’ need to be aware of taking care of the ball and making the most of their chances. Especially since the team had a depleted lineup, since Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and most of the key players were out due to injury.
Following the tough loss, Richard showed a lot of effort on the floor. He had five points, two rebounds and three steals. Podziemski, meanwhile, led the team with his 25 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Advertisement
Without their best players, the Warriors did their best to try and make it a challenging game for the Knicks. They started hot with a 35-21 first-quarter lead, but that changed after New York caught up to them in the latter quarters.
Related: Steve Kerr Commends Team’s Effort After Tough Loss in Warriors-Knicks Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.