To their credit, the Spurs are taking their time building a solid core around Wembanyama. Gregg Popovich was slated to lead him over his first few seasons, but the famous coach stepped down.
To replace him, the Spurs elevated interim head coach Mitch Johnson to full-time status. Johnson appears to have the support of Wembanyama, Popovich, and General Manager Brian Wright.
If Wembanyama becomes available, the Spurs may pivot and match him with one of the most successful players in NBA history.
San Antonio Spurs Urged to Add Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr won five rings as a player before becoming the Golden State Warriors’ head coach and winning four titles. His last two seasons were spent as a sharpshooting specialist with the Spurs, where he met Popovich.
Kerr has credited Pop as a major influence on his coaching, and even with Johnson taking over, naming Kerr as Popovich’s successor makes logical.
One NBA expert believes the pairing is a marriage made in heaven.
“The Spurs should pursue Steve Kerr,” said Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor.
Would Kerr be interested in returning to San Antonio? The subject has never been seriously raised, as Kerr has had success in Golden State and has been synonymous with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. He has long admired Popovich’s “Spurs Way,” however.
“Pop is one of the most important people in my life for many, many reasons,” Kerr stated following Popvich’s retirement announcement. “Most of them go way beyond basketball.”
Steve Kerr’s tenure at Golden State could be ending.
Kerr is the best coach the Warriors have ever had, having won four rings. He brought out the best in Hall of Famers such as Curry, Green, Durant, and Klay Thompson.
For the most part, he was able to control the feuding personalities on his team.
As the Warriors prepare for a post-Curry rebuild, Kerr may not be a part of the next chapter. Would the perennial champion really want to head a struggling team? Or would he like to take the easy road and join Wembanyama under Popovich, who is still president of basketball operations?
After this season, Kerr will be a free agent. The Warriors can give him an extension at any moment.
“However this ends, it’s going to be done in a really quality way,” Kerr said on September 30. “It will happen in the proper way. If it’s meant for me to keep going, I’ll keep going. And if it is intended for the team to go on to someone else, there will be nothing but respect and admiration.”
In order to bring on Kerr, the Spurs would have to fire Johnson. That seemed unlikely, given his support from Wembanyama. However, if this season doesn’t go well, their new coach will have a short leash.
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