History of Steve Kerr in Timeline
Steve Kerr is an accomplished American basketball coach and former player. Currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors and the U.S. national team, he's celebrated for his exceptional three-point shooting accuracy, holding the NBA record for highest career three-point percentage. Kerr boasts an impressive nine NBA championships, securing five as a player and four as the Warriors' head coach. His contributions to the sport were recognized when he was named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History.
1947: Rookie Coaches Faceoff
In 1947, Eddie Gottlieb and Harold Olsen were the first pair of rookie head coaches to face each other in the NBA Finals
1954: USA Basketball FIBA win
The 1986 team win at the FIBA World Championship was the first title since 1954.
September 27, 1965: Stephen Kerr Born
On September 27, 1965, Stephen Douglas Kerr was born. He would become a professional basketball coach and former player, known for his three-point shooting and multiple NBA championships.
1969: Statistical Recognition
As of 2024, Steve Kerr is the only NBA player to win four straight NBA titles after 1969.
1975: Warriors Sweep NBA Finals
Before Kerr took the lead, the Warriors had a four-game playoff sweep in the 1975 NBA Finals.
1975: Warriors Previous High
Prior to the 2014-2015 season, the Warriors had a previous high of 59 in the 1975-76 season.
1983: Graduated High School
In 1983, Steve Kerr graduated from Palisades High School in Los Angeles.
1983: Basketball at Arizona
In 1983, Steve Kerr started his basketball career at the University of Arizona.
January 18, 1984: Father's Death
On January 18, 1984, Steve Kerr's father, Malcolm Kerr, was killed in Beirut while serving as president of the American University of Beirut.
1985: Pac-10
In 1985-86, Steve Kerr led the Pac-10 in free throw shooting in 1985-86 (89.9%).
1986: Knee Injury at FIBA
In 1986, Steve Kerr suffered a knee injury during the FIBA World Championship, causing him to miss the following college basketball season.
1986: FIBA World Championship
In the summer of 1986, Steve Kerr competed in the FIBA World Championship in Spain as part of the U.S. national team, winning the title.
1987: NCAA Record
During the 1987-88 season, Steve Kerr set an NCAA single-season record for 3-point percentage (57.3%).
1988: Basketball at Arizona
In 1988, Steve Kerr finished his basketball career at the University of Arizona.
1988: University of Arizona Graduation
In 1988, Steve Kerr graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of General Studies.
1988: Led Wildcats to Victory
In 1988, Steve Kerr led the Wildcats to victory after being taunted by Sun Devils fans, scoring 20 points in the first half.
1988: NBA Draft and All-American Honors
In 1988, Steve Kerr was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the NBA draft. That same year, he earned All-American honors as a senior at the University of Arizona, concluding his college basketball career.
1988: NBA Draft
In 1988, Steve Kerr was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the NBA draft as the 50th overall pick.
1989: Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
In 1989, Steve Kerr was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for draft consideration.
1990: Kerr Marries Margot Brennan
In 1990, Kerr married his college sweetheart, Margot Brennan.
December 1992: Traded to Orlando Magic
In December 1992, Steve Kerr was traded to the Orlando Magic for draft considerations.
1993: Signed with Chicago Bulls
In 1993, Steve Kerr signed with the Chicago Bulls, becoming a three-point shooting specialist.
1994: Three-Point Shooting Percentage
In the 1994-95 NBA season, Steve Kerr achieved a single-season three-point shooting percentage of .524.
1994: Bulls Franchise Record
In the 1994-95 season, Steve Kerr set the Bulls' franchise single-season three-point field goal percentage record at .524.
1995: Played for the Bulls
In 1995, Steve Kerr played for the Chicago Bulls.
1996: NBA Championship with Bulls
In 1996, the Chicago Bulls, including Steve Kerr, won the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics.
1997: NBA Championship and Three-Point Contest Win
In 1997, Steve Kerr won the NBA Championship with the Chicago Bulls, making a crucial shot in Game 6, and also won the Three-Point Contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend.
1998: NBA Finals
In 1998, in the NBA Finals against Utah, Kerr made a pass to Jordan, which led to a three-point play to win the series.
January 1999: Acquired by San Antonio Spurs
In January 1999, Steve Kerr was acquired by the San Antonio Spurs in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls.
July 24, 2001: Traded to Portland Trail Blazers
On July 24, 2001, Steve Kerr was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers alongside Derek Anderson.
August 2, 2002: Traded Back to San Antonio Spurs
On August 2, 2002, Steve Kerr was traded back to the San Antonio Spurs along with Erick Barkley and a 2003 second-round pick.
2003: Retirement Announcement
In 2003, Steve Kerr announced his retirement after winning five NBA championships during his career.
2003: Broadcast Analyst for TNT
In 2003, Steve Kerr became a broadcast analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT), providing commentary and segments on NBA history.
2003: Won NBA Championship with Spurs and Retirement
In 2003, Steve Kerr won the NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs and then announced his retirement from professional basketball.
April 15, 2004: Potential Buyer for Phoenix Suns
On April 15, 2004, Steve Kerr was announced as a member of a potential group of buyers to acquire the Phoenix Suns.
2004: Minority Owner of Phoenix Suns
In 2004, Steve Kerr became a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns as part of an ownership group led by Robert Sarver.
2004: US Basketball Team Lost Three Games
Prior to 2023, it was in 2004 that the US men's basketball team had last lost three games at the World Cup or Olympics.
2004: Guards Won MVP
Since Steve Nash in 2004-05 and 2005-06 no guard had won MVP consecutively until Stephen Curry.
2005: Record Broken
In 2005, Salim Stoudamire broke the single-season three-point shots made record.
2006: Shooting Stars Competition
During the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, Steve Kerr was a member of the San Antonio team that won the Shooting Stars Competition.
2006: Record Broken
In 2006, Marcus Williams broke the Pac-12 tournament run three-point field goal percentage.
June 2, 2007: Named General Manager of Phoenix Suns
On June 2, 2007, Steve Kerr announced that he would become the general manager of the Phoenix Suns starting with the 2007–08 season.
June 2007: Named Phoenix Suns President and GM
In June 2007, Steve Kerr was named the president of basketball operations and general manager for the Phoenix Suns, marking a transition to a management role.
2007: Leaves Broadcasting for Suns GM Role
In 2007, Steve Kerr left broadcasting to become the general manager for the Phoenix Suns.
December 10, 2008: Remaking the Suns Roster
On December 10, 2008, as general manager, Steve Kerr traded Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley, and a draft pick.
December 2008: Mother's Remarriage
In December 2008, Ann Kerr, Steve Kerr's mother, married Kenneth Coogan Adams, becoming Ann Kerr-Adams.
June 25, 2009: Traded O'Neal to Cleveland
On June 25, 2009, Kerr traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a future draft pick, and cash.
June 2010: Kerr Leaves Suns Position
In June 2010, Steve Kerr announced his departure from his position as president of basketball operations and general manager of the Phoenix Suns.
June 28, 2010: Returns as NBA Analyst for TNT
On June 28, 2010, it was confirmed that Steve Kerr would return as an NBA analyst for TNT, starting with the 2010–11 NBA season.
2010: Kerr Leaves Suns Organization
In 2010, Kerr departed from his position as the president of basketball operations and general manager for the Phoenix Suns.
2010: Tom Thibodeau Wins 62 Games
In the 2010-2011 NBA season, Tom Thibodeau won 62 games with the Chicago Bulls.
2011: NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
In 2011, he also called the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship on Turner Sports and CBS.
May 14, 2014: Kerr Agrees to Coach Golden State Warriors
On May 14, 2014, Kerr agreed to become the head coach of the Golden State Warriors with a five-year, $25 million deal.
May 2014: Named Head Coach of Golden State Warriors
In May 2014, Steve Kerr was appointed as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, marking a significant turning point in his career.
December 10, 2014: Kerr Achieves Rookie Coaching Milestone
On December 10, 2014, Kerr became the first NBA rookie head coach to achieve 21 wins in his first 23 games.
2014: Kerr Decides to Coach Warriors
In 2014, Kerr, who previously owned a small stake in the Phoenix Suns, decided to pursue a head coaching career with the Golden State Warriors.
2014: Joins NBA on TNT as Color Commentator
In 2014, Steve Kerr worked as a color commentator for NBA on TNT after stepping down from his post with the Suns.
2014: Warriors Equal Regular Season Record
In the 2014-15 season, the Warriors had a regular season record of 67-15, their second most wins in franchise history.
2014: NBA 2K15 Commentator
Steve Kerr remained a commentator in NBA 2K15 despite becoming the Golden State Warriors coach for the 2014–15 season several months prior to the game's release.
2015: Kerr's Back Problems After 2015 NBA Finals
After the 2015 NBA Finals, Kerr began to experience back issues that would require rehabilitation and a leave of absence.
2015: Grantland
From 2011 until it closed in 2015, Kerr was also a regular contributor to the website Grantland.
2015: Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2015, Kerr coached the Warriors to victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games, securing his first championship as a head coach.
2015: Kerr Named Western Conference All-Star Head Coach
In 2015, Kerr was named the head coach of the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game after the Warriors achieved the conference's best record.
2015: Golden State Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2015, the Golden State Warriors, under the leadership of coach Steve Kerr, won the NBA Championship.
January 2016: Luke Walton Interim Coaching Duties
In January 2016, Luke Walton had assumed coaching duties while Kerr was on leave.
January 22, 2016: Kerr Returns to Coaching
On January 22, 2016, Kerr made his return to coaching after an absence of 43 games, due to complications from back surgery.
July 4, 2016: Warriors Acquire Kevin Durant
On July 4, 2016, the Golden State Warriors made a landmark acquisition by signing free agent Kevin Durant.
November 20, 2016: Kerr Fined for Criticizing Officiating
On November 20, 2016, the NBA fined Kerr $25,000 for public criticism of officiating during a radio interview.
2016: Kerr Criticizes Donald Trump
Following the 2016 United States presidential election, Kerr publicly criticized Donald Trump.
September 12, 2017: Death of Step-Father
On September 12, 2017, Kenneth Adams, Steve Kerr's step-father, passed away.
2017: Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2017, Kerr and the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, securing another NBA Championship. Kerr missed time in the playoffs because of back issues.
2017: Golden State Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2017, the Golden State Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr, won another NBA Championship.
2018: Warriors Sweep Cavaliers for NBA Title
In 2018, Kerr won his third championship as head coach after the Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games during the NBA Finals.
2018: Golden State Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2018, the Golden State Warriors, with Steve Kerr as head coach, secured their third NBA Championship in four years.
2019: Warriors Lose NBA Finals to Raptors
In 2019, Kerr led the Warriors to their fifth straight Finals, but they were defeated by the Toronto Raptors in six games.
2019: Patrick McCaw Achieves Championship Feat
In 2019, Patrick McCaw, whom Steve Kerr later coached with the Warriors, became the only other NBA player to win three championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons.
2019: Warriors Struggle Due to Injuries
In the 2019–20 season, injuries to key players resulted in the Warriors having the worst record in the league.
October 27, 2020: Kerr Endorses Joe Biden
On October 27, 2020, Kerr endorsed Joe Biden for president.
2020: Kerr Assistant Coach US Olympic Team
In 2020, Kerr served as an assistant coach on the United States men's Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal.
2020: Warriors Miss Playoffs
In the 2019–20 season, the Warriors finished with the worst record (15–50) in the league, marking the first time in Kerr's coaching career that he had missed the playoffs.
December 2021: Kerr Named US Men's Basketball Head Coach
In December 2021, Kerr was appointed as the head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team.
2021: Warriors Fail to Qualify for Playoffs
In 2020–21, the Warriors qualified for the play-in tournament but did not make the playoffs for the second straight season.
May 24, 2022: Kerr's Emotional Plea for Gun Control
On May 24, 2022, Kerr delivered an emotional speech advocating for gun control following the Robb Elementary School shooting in Texas.
2022: Warriors Win 2022 NBA Finals
In 2022, Kerr coached the Warriors to their fourth championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games.
2022: Kerr Named Top 15 Coach
In 2022, Kerr was named one of the Top 15 Coaches in NBA History.
2022: Golden State Warriors Win NBA Championship
In 2022, Steve Kerr coached the Golden State Warriors to another NBA Championship victory.
2022: Warriors Defeated by Lakers
In the 2022–23 season, Kerr and the Warriors reached the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were defeated in six games by the Los Angeles Lakers.
2023: US Team Finishes Fourth at FIBA World Cup
In 2023, Kerr coached the United States team to a fourth-place finish at the FIBA World Cup.
2023: Kerr Buys Stake in La Liga Club Mallorca
In 2023, Kerr expanded his interests beyond basketball by purchasing a minority stake in La Liga club Mallorca.
2023: Cartoon Appearance
In 2023, Steve Kerr portrayed a cartoon version of himself on the animated series Clone High.
August 19, 2024: Kerr Speaks at Democratic National Convention
On August 19, 2024, Kerr spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
2024: Statistical Recognition
As of 2024, Steve Kerr is the only NBA player to win four straight NBA titles after 1969.
2024: Kerr Coaches US Team to Olympic Gold
At the 2024 Summer Olympics Men's Basketball Tournament, Kerr coached the US Team to its fifth consecutive gold medal at Paris' Bercy Arena in a win over host country France.
