On The Glue Guys Podcast, Steve Kerr shared a story from his playing days that felt like more than just a trip down memory lane—it sounded like a subtle message. “I believe I started 17 games in my career. I may be off by one or two, but, you know, I think I played 900 and something games and I started 17 of them. So, um, yeah, I was never never like a, you know, major player, but frequently a role player. Maybe half of those 15 years I was like a 20 minute a night guy and the other half I didn’t play at all,” Kerr said.
He went on to explain what kept him in the league so long: “I actually realized that you could make a career out of being a really good 12th man, you know, like there’s a lot of guys in the league who can’t take it. They can’t deal with not playing and still bring it and and be a be an important part because they just don’t feel important. Um, and I realized, oh, wait a second. Like, this is my ticket to the NBA really. Like, I can I can buy myself another five, six years just by being a good pro… you can’t be a glue guy if you’re bit—– and moaning.”
Now, maybe it was just a general point about team culture—or maybe it was aimed, even indirectly, at Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors and the former lottery pick are still stuck in a stalemate. Kuminga has until October 1 to either sign a $7.9 million qualifying offer or agree to a new extension, but you’d think both sides would prefer to lock something in sooner.
And while Kerr didn’t name names, his comments about the value of embracing a role, staying ready, and contributing to “the fabric” of a team probably land close to home in Golden State’s locker room right now.
(This is a developing story…)
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