WASHINGTON — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr earned his 600th career regular-season victory in Monday’s 125-117 win over the Washington Wizards. Kerr became the 28th coach in league history to reach the 600-win mark, a milestone that came at an opportune time for a Warriors team that snapped a five-game losing streak.
Kerr is the seventh coach to notch 600 wins with a single team. He joined Gregg Popovich (1,390 with the San Antonio Spurs), Jerry Sloan (1,221 with the Utah Jazz), Erik Spoelstra (825 with the Miami Heat), Red Auerbach (795 with the Boston Celtics), Red Holzman (613 with the New York Knicks) and Phil Jackson (610 with the Los Angeles Lakers).
After the game, Kerr reflected on the players and coaches who helped him reach this point.
“I owe, I guess the honor, to incredible talent and a great organization,” Kerr said after the game. “To work for the Warriors, to be part of this group, amazing group of people, that Joe Lacob and Peter Guber put together, just to be a part of this, I’m so blessed. Most organizations are not this strong and this aligned. I’m very, very lucky.”
Kerr has repeatedly pointed to the leadership that Warriors star guard Stephen Curry has provided through his 12 years as coach, but Kerr has also done his part by providing a veteran presence for his players. Kerr won five NBA championships as a player before starting his coaching career with the Warriors.
One of Kerr’s strongest qualities during his time as Warriors coach is his ability to connect with a wide array of players. While it doesn’t work in every case, Kerr’s track record — and four NBA titles in 12 years — underscores that he has done the job as well as any of his peers in this era.
The only three coaches to reach 600 regular-season wins quicker than Kerr are Hall of Famers Pat Riley and the aforementioned Jackson and Popovich. Kerr played for Jackson as a member of the Chicago Bulls and Popovich as a member of the Spurs. He has credited both with providing elements of the coaching style he uses today.
“It’s really special what we get to do every day,” Kerr said. “And I’m very lucky.”