Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is not expected to continue as the head coach of Team USA, according to various reports.
Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra and LA Clippers’ Ty Lue are emerging as top contenders for the position. Marc Stein has reported these names, with Forbes’ Evan Sidery also highlighting Spoelstra as a leading candidate.
Kerr, who is 58, has had a remarkable career with the Warriors, guiding them to four NBA championships. He also did a commendable job leading Team USA to gold at the 2024 Olympics, winning every game. However, he had previously stated his intention to step down from the role after the Paris Games. Kerr explained last November that he viewed the role as a two-year cycle, similar to how Gregg Popovich managed the World Cup and Olympics before him.
Despite the gold medal, some USA Basketball fans might be relieved by Kerr’s departure. Several games, including the final against Serbia, were closer than expected, and at times, it seemed players had to take control when Kerr’s strategies weren’t working.
Kerr faced particular criticism for his decision to bench Jayson Tatum, the reigning NBA champion. Tatum, who averaged 15.2 points per game during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, saw a significant drop to just 5.3 points per game in the 2024 Paris Games, which was the third-lowest on the team.
