Steve Kerr was a great coach when he came to the Warriors in 2014 and soon became a great coach. He is one of three who reached six NBA Finals and won four championships in his first eight seasons.
It would be wrong, however, to believe that Kerr’s impeccable credentials indicate that his learning curve has come full circle. He will be the first to admit that the lessons keep coming. Sometimes they hurt, and the memories tend to stick.
So Kerr has to be a better coach next season than he was last season — or last week.
That was the result of Team USA men’s basketball’s latest disappointing international performance. Kerr had to live being the head coach of a FIBA ​​World Cup team that lost three of its last four games, finished in fourth place, with bitter memories but no medals. In that unfortunate distinction, Kerr joins Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history, whose team finished seventh in the 2019 World Cup.
Although there are many reasons – none more than elite NBA players who refuse to participate in an international competition that lacks the prestige of the Olympic Games – this latest version of Team USA had a daunting challenge from the start.
Three major things stood out during the competition in the Philippines:
1) The roster construction is, um, amazing. This is a “B” team, with some “C” level players. It’s very young, with players as young as 20 and none older than 28. It lacks star power, with two players (Josh Hart and Bobby Portis) who are solid veteran rotation players but hardly All-Stars. Not a single player has senior national team experience. It’s long on “switchability” but short — literally and figuratively — on inside presence, with Jaren Jackson Jr. a stellar defender but an average foul-prone rebounder. Much of the responsibility for the roster falls on Kerr and his staff.
2) The rotations are, um, amazing. Tyrese Haliburton, the closest thing to Jason Kidd as a floor general, often sits out key moments. The purest 3-point shooter, Cam Johnson, averaged 11 minutes per game. The best rebounder and shot-blocker, 7-foot Walker Kessler, averaged only eight – the fewest on the team. He was the only player to spend the entire game on the bench as Team USA fell out of gold medal contention with a loss to Germany. Considering the length of the Germans, and the way they bully the paint, Kessler’s defensive skills make him an obvious candidate for meaningful minutes.
“You’ve got a lot of big strong guys out there on the switches and so they did a good job of executing,” Kerr told reporters after the 113-111 loss to Germany. “And of course, on the switch you know (point guard Dennis) Schröder’s attack. They put a lot of stress on your defense. Just give them credit.”
3) Adjustments are slow or non-existent. Shocked. The most visible adjustment was made after the stunning loss to Lithuania, which did a great job of exploiting Team USA’s weaknesses. Kerr and his staff — esteemed coaches Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue, Mark Few — unleashed a ferocious, rushing defense that crippled Italy in a 100-63 loss. What followed was a series of defeats. One against a big German team, against Kessler a logical adjustment, and one against a more determined squad from Canada, which outlasted a Team USA that was running out of juice when the golden medals are out of reach.
With Team USA beaten by three teams in an eight-day span, Kerr was subjected to the usual round of criticism. Some of it is worth it. It comes with the job when you’re coaching a favorite who won’t win. Popovich, you may recall, received the same treatment four years ago. This comes in handy when you coach the favorite and leave the tournament empty.
“The game has been globalized over the last 30 years or so,” Kerr said after the loss to Germany. “And you know these games are tough. It’s not 1992 anymore. The players are better all over the world. Teams are better. It is not easy to win the World Cup or the Olympic Games.â€
That is not an excuse. That is a fact. The last five NBA MVP awards have been won by players born in other countries. Nine of the 24 players on the 2023 All-Star rosters have roots in Europe or Africa.
Yet every Team USA player and coach will go home wrapped in humility. Perhaps none other than Kerr, who as a player and coach has experienced more success than failure. He has already replayed the World Cup in his mind, and will likely do so a few more times.
There is another “Redeem Team” that will take the floor in Paris for the Olympics next summer. They will bring the gold back to America. That’s typical of the international basketball cycle.
On the other hand, Kerr has the NBA season coming up in less than six weeks. He embraced the challenge. He was excited. This is an opportunity to show growth. To prove that he is a better coach than last season, last week or yesterday.
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