KEY POINTS

  • Steve Kerr led the Golden State Warriors to three NBA championships since joining the team in 2014
  • Warriors center Kevon Looney heaped praise on Kerr's approach
  • Stephen Curry had earlier revealed how Kerr won him over his beloved former coach

For Golden State Warriors big man Kevon Looney, Steve Kerr ticks all the boxes of a great coach.

Kerr has been a pillar of the Warriors team that has been taking modern-day NBA by storm.

In the Dubs’ recent championships, most of the credit went to the star players such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

However, Looney--who is now playing his seventh season with the Warriors--talent is already there, but Kerr’s unique approach certainly takes their game to “another level.”

"[Coach] Steve always talks about being fast, loose, and discipline," Looney said during a recent appearance on 95.7 The Game's "Morning Roast.” "That been our motto for years here at the Warriors. He gives players a lot of freedom, but also has the ability to reel them in, ya know.”

"All the new guys talk about how much freedom they have here and how open it is and how much confidence Steve gives the players,” he added. “That's the biggest thing. Confidence is key. At this level, a lot of guys have talent but when you have the freedom and the green light to do what you do, it takes your game to another level."

Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr believes the Warriors have set the bar high. In this picture, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors complains about a call to referee Rodney Mott #71 during the second half of their NBA Basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California, December 25, 2018. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Prior to Kerr, the Warriors were led by Indiana Pacers legend Mark Jackson, a coach whom Curry looked up to a lot.

After just a few seasons, Jackson and Curry developed a strong bond that went beyond just basketball. When Kerr took over the Warriors in 2014, Curry was skeptical about his overall skills as he “loved” everything about Jackson so much.

But like what Looney said, Kerr’s impeccable approach and coaching style eventually won over Curry’s approval.

"Sometimes you have coaches that kind of want to be the hero, you know,” Curry said on "The Rex Chapman Show" in April. 'I did this, I brought in these specific changes, and this is what's gonna get us there'. [Kerr] is like, it's just a different entrance, if you will, of how he wanted to take our success of a great defensive team, a really talented offensive team, and unlock it.”

"That, for me, kind of disarmed me a little bit, to be like, 'Okay, I can roll with this.' Because you know how much I loved Mark Jackson at the time, too. It was a big change for me."

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