MY ACCOUNT
Steve Kerr admitted he was still in awe of Stephen Curry after his starring role in the Golden State Warriors’ NBA Finals success.
The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game 6 to seal an unassailable 4-2 series lead and claim a fourth title in eight years.
Kerr, who also won five championships as a player, has been at the helm for all of those successes, but he has not lost the ability to be impressed by the feats of his star players.
And nobody has played a greater role in this season’s triumph than league and Finals MVP Curry.
“He does [still inspire awe], because what he does at his size is so different from the traditional greats in this league,” Kerr said of the 34-year-old.
“I’ve said it so many times, Steph reminds me so much of Tim Duncan. Totally different players. But from a humanity standpoint, talent standpoint, humility, confidence, this wonderful combination that just makes everybody want to win for him.
“And I’m obviously thrilled for everyone in that room, and a lot of people had a big hand in this, but I think the thing with Steph is, you know, without him, none of this happens.
“That’s not taking anything away from Joe [Lacob] and Peter’s [Gruber] ownership, because they have built an incredible organisation.
“Bob Myers, hell of a GM. Our players, we have had so many great players, but Steph ultimately is why this run has happened. Much like Timmy in San Antonio.
“So I’m happy for everybody, but I’m thrilled for Steph. To me this is his crowning achievement in what’s already been an incredible career.”
Curry averaged 31.2 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Finals to earn the first Finals MVP of his career.
He put up a team-high 34 points in Game 6 on 12-of-21 shooting, hitting six-of-11 threes while adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
Curry also became the first player to ever win a unanimous league MVP and a unanimous Finals MVP.
Asked what distinguished this title from the rest, Kerr added: “They are all unique, they are all special. I think this one may have been the most unlikely just from the standpoint of where we’ve been the last couple years.
“A lot of unknowns, the injury to Klay [Thompson], Draymond [Green] at the end of the year, Steph at the end of the year. A lot of young guys, a new core, or a new group around our core, I should say.
“But it’s really special to see guys like Wiggs [Andrew Wiggins] and Loon [Kevon Looney] and Gary Payton, just how far they have come, the impact they made, Jordan Poole, the same thing.
“I know I’m going to forget people but it takes a full team effort to do this, and we just had a great group who do get it done.”
