The New Yorker Radio Hour The N.B.A. Legend Steve Kerr
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May 5, 2026 
Steve Kerr, veteran NBA coach and former player known for leading the Golden State Warriors to multiple titles, reflects on his international childhood and how basketball shaped him. He revisits playing with Michael Jordan, the emotional impact of his father’s assassination, and his evolving role speaking out on politics and public advocacy. He also discusses coaching motivations and the Warriors’ future.
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Kerr Returned To Practice The Morning After His Father's Murder
- Steve Kerr says he went to practice the day after his father Malcolm Kerr was assassinated in 1984 and that basketball was literally part of his grieving process.
- He learned of the killing at 3 a.m. from a colleague and used team routines and practice as an anchor during shock and grief.
Kerr's Distinction Between Jordan And LeBron
- Kerr contrasts Michael Jordan's emotional dominance with LeBron James's all-around athleticism and passing, arguing they're both the greatest but different types of players.
- He highlights Jordan's psychological control over opponents and LeBron's durability and point-forward passing as defining distinctions.
Style Shift, Not Only Rules, Reduced NBA Physicality
- Kerr explains today's NBA is less physical largely because the style moved from low-post battles to perimeter pace-and-space, not just rule changes.
- He notes analytics and spacing shifted contact away from the center, changing how physicality manifests in modern play.