Steve Kerr has only been coaching in the NBA for one year, but as far as inaugural seasons go, no one in league history can say they've had one better.
The Golden State Warriors finished the regular season with a 67-15 record and their first Pacific Division title since 1976, making Kerr the winningest first-year coach of all time. The previous record was held by both Tom Thibodeau (Chicago Bulls, 2010-11) and Paul Westphal (Phoenix Suns, 1992-93) at 62 wins.
While Kerr's early accomplishments - which may soon include an NBA championship if the Warriors can knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals - deserve to be applauded, considering him one of the greatest to ever man the sidelines at this stage of his career is preposterous.
Kerr is well aware that he has a long way to go before being recognized as a legend at his profession, poking fun at the notion prior to Game 3.
When asked to compare himself to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whom he won two championships with as a player, Kerr praised his former mentor while giving himself a facetious seal of approval in the "greatest coaches ever" debate.
Kerr, asked 2 compare self w/Popovich: "Pop's one of the greatest coaches of all time, certainly top 3. I'm not." Pause "I think I'm 4th."
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 9, 2015
"People gravitate to him," Popovich said to Sport's Illustrated's Lee Jenkins about Kerr. "In our program, we try to be straightforward - no Knute Rockne speeches, no blown smoke, no manipulations. 'This is what you do well, this is what you do poorly, here's your role.' And add humor. Always add humor. Steve has a great sense of humor - refined, honest and self-deprecating when it needs to be."
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