Kerr optimistic next season won't be last dance for Warriors core
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr isn't remotely concerned that the upcoming 2018-19 campaign could potentially be a "last dance" for his current squad, despite Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins all being eligible to bolt in free agency next summer.
"Last dance?" I hope not. I hope we keep dancing," said Kerr following Golden State's practice on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.
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Kerr was a member of the Chicago Bulls during their second three-peat from 1996 through 1998. He vividly remembers how Chicago's core of coach Phil Jackson (retirement), Michael Jordan (retirement), Scottie Pippen (traded to Houston Rockets), and Dennis Rodman (signed with Los Angeles Lakers) were all gone after within a short window after knocking off the Utah Jazz in '98.
He doesn't envision a similar fate meeting his Warriors.
"I think the difference is with Phil [Jackson] in '98 we all were free agents and we all knew we were all going to be gone, including Phil," Kerr said. "But we're not in that same position. We do have plenty of free agents, but we're not looking at this as the final dance. Like I said, we want to have some fun and enjoy what we have this year and move on from there."
Entering next season as a heavy favorite to complete a three-peat of their own, Kerr wants his Warriors players to be relaxed and appreciate both the journey and each other, not knowing what the future has in store.
"We are playing with some house money," he said. "We won three of the last four championships. Our place in the history of the league is pretty secure.
"I don't think our guys should feel a ton of pressure. I think they should feel the importance of trying to do it again, because this may be the last time we have this current iteration of the Warriors, just given all the free agents and the money crunch and everything else. So we don't know what's going to happen. So why not just go all out and enjoy every step of the way?"