The Golden State Warriors‘ dynasty feels as if it is approaching its end. Speculation is mounting that Steve Kerr may have already coached his final game for the franchise following their Play-In loss to the Phoenix Suns.
While Stephen Curry remains at the peak of his powers, the roster around him is a far cry from the world-beating rotations of the last decade, as changes this summer feel inevitable.
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As the basketball community whispers about who could eventually succeed the man who brought four titles to the Bay Area, a radical question has emerged: Could we see the return of the player-coach in the form of Draymond Green? While the idea is intriguing, Kerr offered a grounded perspective during an interview with “The New Yorker”.
“I don’t know that he’ll coach. He definitely has the brain for it. I don’t know if he has the patience,” Kerr admitted. “He’s an incredibly passionate, emotional guy, and that passion and energy has frequently gotten him in trouble. And I love him.”
“I think he’s a really good-hearted person with an incredible brain, but if he wants to coach, he’s going to have to learn how to control some of that emotion, that desire, and that fire that burns within him, and it’s not an easy thing to do,” he added.
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Green’s volatile nature remains the ultimate hurdle
The odds of a modern-day player-coach are virtually non-existent; the days of Bill Russell or Magic Johnson pulling double duty are long gone. Yet, if anyone knows this team inside and out, it’s Dray. His elite IQ, championship pedigree and unbreakable bond with Steph are qualities any organization would covet in a coaching candidate.
However, as Kerr pointed out, Dray’s volatile nature remains the ultimate hurdle. A head coach must navigate a locker room full of diverse personalities, many of whom may not share Green’s obsessive competitive fire.
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History shows that for personalities like his, it is incredibly difficult to lower the ego and empathize with players who don’t see the game with the same fire as he does.
Green’s history of “incidents” only complicates the vision. From the infamous practice altercation with Jordan Poole to on-court scuffles with Jusuf Nurkic and Rudy Gobert, not to mention questionable plays involving Domantas Sabonis, Steven Adams, or LeBron James, his track record is defined by the very “fire” Kerr mentioned.
The tools for greatness are undoubtedly there
Even Steve himself hasn’t been immune to Draymond’s outbursts. The coach also broke his silence on their “knockdown, drag-out” fights and what he described as a “toxic truce.”
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“Yeah. I mean, people pulling us apart. And in my first five years, we would get into three knockdown, drag-outs a year,” Kerr told. “Part of it was, I just had to show the rest of the team that I’m in charge… It’s a community that you’re building, not just a team. Then for a long time we had a truce. I understood him so well.”
“He understood me. But this year we had a major blowout in December. He’s such a unique person. There’s things he’s done that I can never forgive him for, and yet I will do anything for him.”
Kerr, known for his broad perspective and calm demeanor, managed to find a “fine line” with Green and the rest of the squad over the years. It is difficult to imagine the one time DPOY, whose brand is built on being the aggressor, finding that same diplomatic balance from the other side of the clipboard.
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The tools for greatness are undoubtedly there. If Green can eventually temper the flames that have both fueled his success and scorched his reputation, he has the potential to be a brilliant tactical mind on the sidelines.
But as of now, that “if” remains as large as his personality.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.