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Why Charles Barkley thought Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ‘stupid’ in 2014
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- Why Charles Barkley thought Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ‘stupid’ in 2014
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Charles Barkley once questioned Steve Kerr's judgment before the Golden State Warriors dynasty ever began, a take that now reads very differently in hindsight.
Back in 2014, when Kerr was linked to the Warriors head coaching job, Barkley was openly skeptical about the situation he would be walking into.
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Charles Barkley doubted Steve Kerr's Warriors move in 2014
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Speaking during the period, as documented by Sports Illustrated , Barkley made a blunt assessment about Kerr potentially taking the job.
"Steve is not that stupid. He's not going to come to the Titanic," Barkley said.
The comment suggested Barkley believed the Warriors were a sinking situation, hardly an attractive destination for a first-time head coach.
At the time, Golden State had talent but had not yet broken through as a championship force.
Kerr ultimately accepted the role, stepping into a franchise that had shown promise but lacked postseason pedigree. Few could have predicted how dramatically the narrative would shift within a year.
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Steve Kerr proved Charles Barkley wrong
Instead of steering a sinking ship, Kerr ignited one of the most dominant eras in modern NBA history. In his first season, the Warriors won 67 games and captured the 2015 NBA title.
That championship became the foundation for a dynasty built on pace, spacing, and Stephen Curry 's transformational shooting.
Kerr would go on to win multiple NBA championships, rack up one of the highest winning percentages in league history and establish himself as one of the most influential coaches of his era.
The Warriors not only avoided collapse. They redefined how basketball is played. Barkley's "Titanic" line now serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA.
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Kerr's gamble turned into sustained success, validating his belief in the roster and his system. In hindsight, the supposed iceberg never appeared. Instead, the move launched a dynasty that reshaped the league.
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