Coming from someone with nine rings, it might be hard for certain sections to resonate with Steve Kerr 's recent take on the NBA's ring culture. Whether as a former sharpshooting guard or head coach with the Golden State Warriors , Kerr has been to the NBA's Promised Land on multiple occasions.
At the same time, he does not believe that championships make or break careers. A regular on the Tom Tolbert Show, Kerr recently shed light on the league's obsession with chasing rings and how it was detrimental to the spirit of the game. He also reflected upon Stephen Curry 's return to action.
The 2025-26 season certainly didn't shape up as expected for the Dub Nation, with injuries plaguing its top stars. While Jimmy Butler was ruled out for the entire season after an ACL tear in January, Steph had been dealing with a knee injury as the Warriors hit crisis mode.
Struggling for the most part, many felt it was a wrap for Coach Kerr and Co. this season. And, suddenly, the news of Curry returning a few games ahead of the postseason sparked a lot of debate. Most of it had to do with the 38-year-old's health and Golden State's limited ceiling.
"Everybody was like, just don't even bother. Like it's Steph Curry. Don't you want to watch him play?And then he comes back in that Houston game, and it's one of the best games of the year," said the Warriors coach, recalling how, despite the loss, fans at the Chase Center were in for a treat.
Having completed 37 years in the NBA, Steve has been fortunate to be part of some of the greatest dynasties, whether as a player on the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs or as a coach with the Warriors. A close witness to all-time greats like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan and of course Stephen Curry .
In a winning situation for most of his career, Kerr believes nothing comes above the game.
"If you don't win the championship, you're a failure, and so what's the point? And so everyone is sort of hyperfocused on that, and it's like no, you got to be able to enjoy the season and enjoy the games for, you know, for what they are too, and that's been lost for sure," admitted the all-time Top 15 NBA coach.
Players often get a lot of flak for ring-chasing, but fans and the media are equally to blame for it as well. The notion of a legacy being incomplete without a ring is something that has been quietly building behind the scenes.
It's no secret that the Warriors are a fading dynasty, something Kerr has acknowledged as well. However, the veteran coach still seeks joy in the beauty of chasing one last title .
"Obviously, we all, you know, ring culture, we all focus on who won, but there is something beautiful in the fight, in the quest.And because we love it so much, because we love what we do, there really is a beauty in the journey to hang in there and maybe reach the top of the mountain one more time," described the 2016 Coach of the Year.
No doubt, Steve makes a great case when it comes to looking beyond rings in the NBA. Yet again, one could argue that it's easier said than done, especially in Kerr's case, who already has nine of them. That said, as long as championships remain the ultimate measure of success in the NBA, the conversation around ring chasing isn't going anywhere.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
