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Warriors head coach Steve Kerr joins Willard and Dibs to break down his team's five game win streak, the Valkyries' parade, and more.
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00:00Out to the River Island's guest line. Indeed, it's time for Steve Kerr, brought to you by the Contra Costa
00:05County Library.
00:06Unlock free books, e-books, and family events with your Contra Costa County Library card.
00:12Visit ccclib.org today. Coach Kerr with us on Willard and Dibs.
00:18Afternoon, Coach. How you doing?
00:20I'm doing great. How are you guys?
00:22We're doing fantastic. You know, just another parade today.
00:27Just another parade.
00:28Just another one.
00:30Yep, yep. And I guess the Bay Area fans are used to it these last 15 years or so. There's
00:35been plenty of them.
00:36We counted eight in the last 16 years, which is pretty freaking impressive.
00:41What's your experience with parades? Like, how fun are they versus how much of a goldfish do you feel like?
00:48Oh, they're pure joy. They're so much fun.
00:51And, you know, the first three were in Oakland and then the last one in San Francisco.
00:57And they were all just amazing.
00:58Just the sheer feeling of elation that, you know, everybody feels.
01:06The fans, the players, the coaches and that communal joy, collective joy is just there's nothing better.
01:14So I was really, really thrilled for the Valkyries and all their fans today.
01:19Did you feel a little bit more euphoria with the first one?
01:22I was kind of getting that sense today with the Valkyries and their fans because obviously they've never gone through
01:27it.
01:27Not that it gets old, but is the first one just even a little bit more euphoric?
01:34I don't know. It's just really fun when you have to compare all nine parades that you've been part of,
01:39you know?
01:40I enjoy that.
01:41So if you want, I can do a little research and kind of rank them one through nine.
01:45But yeah, they're all amazing. Let me put it that way.
01:49The one where you kind of dunked on Jordan on the podium, that's got to be number one.
01:55Yeah, that was kind of my one shot and I took it and I'm glad it went over well.
02:01But yeah, that was a fun day.
02:04But yeah, it really is special when you get to celebrate with the whole city and everyone feels it.
02:12There's just a great vibe in the air.
02:14I remember my first year coaching the Warriors when the Giants beat the Royals in the World Series
02:21and just that incredible feeling throughout the Bay.
02:25And I desperately wanted to feel that and we did like, you know, eight months later.
02:31So it was pretty, pretty cool.
02:32What a great time it was.
02:34Yeah, Steve Kerr is with us.
02:35And Steve, this particular Valkyrie team, whenever you have a team that is perceived,
02:41I'm not even going to say that it isn't,
02:42but when they're perceived to not be the most talented, but they win,
02:46that's when a coach really, really gets a lot of the credit.
02:50And so I know you feel it and you've heard it.
02:53Natalie Nicasse is getting a ton of credit for this.
02:56I'm interested in your perspective on the job that she's done
03:00and what you think specifically she does really well.
03:03Well, she's just a rock star.
03:05I mean, great coach, great human being.
03:08I think she has a lot of conviction.
03:11You know, her team really built an identity,
03:14but she wasn't afraid to make changes during the finals when she was down 2-1
03:19and she made all the right moves.
03:21And, you know, it was a classic series.
03:23And we've been through a few of those where, you know,
03:27your opponent just brings out every one of your weaknesses
03:32and forces you to adapt and adjust.
03:35And I thought Natalie and her staff just did an amazing job
03:39of really embracing the challenge
03:43and implementing the changes that they made.
03:46And then, of course, the guts of that team, you know,
03:50to come back against Dallas, you know, down, what was it, down 16, I think,
03:55late third in an elimination game.
03:56And then, again, to make a comeback in game seven of the finals.
04:00It was just a beautiful team to watch.
04:03And Natalie's a brilliant coach.
04:06And I'm really, really thrilled for her and the whole team.
04:10Elite flow-like performances are like children.
04:12You can never pick one over the other.
04:14But second half Gabby, it had to give you some of the game six clay
04:18and Steph a bunch of other times feels, didn't it?
04:22It did.
04:22And I think that is so rare.
04:25You know, you think of what great athletes all these players are
04:30in the NBA and the WNBA.
04:31They're all great players or they wouldn't have made it.
04:34But in my mind, in my experience as a player,
04:38very few players are capable of doing what Gabby did.
04:42And the pressure of that moment, sort of finding the zone
04:45and that fluid state of not thinking about the repercussions,
04:50of just letting it rip.
04:52We've seen Steph do it.
04:54We've seen clay, you know, I used to watch Michael Jordan
04:57do it all the time.
04:59But I can tell you from experience, it is very rare for an athlete
05:04to possess all of those qualities, you know, the skill,
05:08the mental toughness, the mindfulness, the ability to connect the mind
05:13and body under extreme pressure.
05:16So I think what Gabby did has to go down as one of the great performances
05:22in basketball history.
05:24Steve, we will ask you about your team too.
05:28So I'm curious your perspective on this because you felt it, I'm sure.
05:33A lot of fans, after they saw your first three games this year,
05:36went, oh boy, oh boy, this is going to be tough.
05:39Um, if I had told you after you guys lost in Phoenix at 0-3
05:45that you were about to uncork five in a row, what would you have said?
05:50I would have doubted it, but I didn't, I sure didn't expect to be, you know,
05:57two and six.
05:58I'll tell you that.
05:58I mean, winning five in a row is tough, especially with the schedule.
06:01Um, you know, we had difficult games along the way, back to backs.
06:06Um, so to do that is, I think, a testament to our team and the preparation
06:12that they all put in, you know, over the summer and in training camp.
06:16And I think I told you guys, you know, even last week when we talked just how
06:21much I liked this team and what, uh, what I thought we could be.
06:25But, um, this is a hell of a response from 0-3 to, to win five in a row.
06:29So I'm like, I couldn't be more proud of the guys.
06:31And you've got to be pretty happy just to settle in at home and you get six at
06:35home before you get five out on the road.
06:37Are you thinking in terms of stacking firewood right now over the next three,
06:41knowing that there's a tough road trip ahead?
06:44You know, we, we, we literally take it a week at a time in the NBA.
06:48It's just so hard to look ahead.
06:50Um, you know, I mean, if I, if I looked ahead right now, the schedule would tell
06:55me there were 74 more games left and that would, that would sound really
06:59daunting.
07:00So, uh, we really do kind of, uh, every Monday we come in, we list the schedule,
07:06we give the guys, you know, the, the weekly schedule in terms of practice and
07:10games and, and, uh, days off.
07:13And we just take a week by week and just try to keep a really sound process.
07:17And that's worked well for us over the years.
07:19And when we know too, that, um, weird things happen, you know, throughout the
07:24season, you just have to be ready for everything.
07:26And the best way to do that is just to keep an even keel.
07:29Steve, we had Charles Bassey on yesterday after his big Monday night and, uh, man,
07:35he's delightful to talk to, uh, what's, what's the plan going forward after a
07:39performance like that?
07:40Are we going to see a lot more of him?
07:43Well, he's a really good young talent.
07:45Um, you know, he's been on about five different teams.
07:48So, so he's had some experience, um, came into the NBA pretty raw and, um, like a lot of
07:55guys who come in without a ton of college experience, it takes time, you know?
08:00And I, I think Charles is a reminder that, um, you know, guys are going to develop over
08:06time.
08:06You got to give them opportunity, um, and you've got to give them a good set of circumstances.
08:12And I think that's what's happening here.
08:15Um, he, it's, he's right for us and we're right for him.
08:18So I'm really happy for Charles and there's no doubt.
08:21He's going to get plenty of opportunities going forward.
08:24And, you know, the threat that he poses, um, you know, especially with Chris stops, not
08:29here, um, Charles is very different from Al and Draymond, as you can see, you know, he's
08:35a lob threat.
08:36He's a finisher shot blocker at the rim.
08:39So he, he gives us a different dynamic and, um, we're, we're really excited about him and
08:44yeah, he's going to get better and better.
08:47Another new face here for fans is George Niang, who's kind of in that same journeyman
08:52spot.
08:52What have you made not only of his game, but his swagger through eight I'm taken by just
08:57the level of confidence he plays with no matter what.
09:00You know, George played for Santa Cruz, uh, maybe 10 years ago, right when he got to the
09:05league, uh, we really loved him.
09:07We had him in training camp.
09:09Uh, we went to China.
09:10I think it was, um, Kevin Durant's first year.
09:13Uh, we went to training camp and we really wanted to keep him, but we just didn't have
09:18a spot for him.
09:19And, you know, once he found his way into the NBA, once he sort of figured out, you know,
09:25the way the game was played, he's, he's made an impact on every team he's ever been on.
09:31In fact, there's a great stat.
09:32He's got like the highest winning percentage of, of any player in the NBA over the last
09:37five or six years.
09:38And, and, uh, you know, not to say he's one of the best players in the league, but he is,
09:43he's one of the players in the league who you can win with and he makes everyone better.
09:48He's, he doesn't look the part.
09:50Um, you know, he's, he's not fast.
09:53He, you know, he's not explosive, but he just knows how to play.
09:56And he's very skilled as a ball mover and a passer and a, and a shooter.
10:01And he's just a wonderful addition to our team.
10:04And I think the best thing is that he hasn't even really found his rhythm yet.
10:07You know, he missed most of last year with injuries.
10:10So he's just now getting his legs underneath him and getting comfortable.
10:14I think he will get better and better as well.
10:16Steve Kerr with us as he is every week, Willard and Dibbs 95.7 the game.
10:20Steve, as you're talking about some of these front court players, you mentioned Chris Stops
10:24not being there.
10:25You're probably aware there's been a lot of reporting today with regard to the larger sort
10:30of front office situation surrounding him.
10:33I know you don't have any answers on that going forward.
10:35I'll, I'll, I'll ask this though, cause I do think people are, are, are curious to know
10:40to, to what level did this whole situation kind of catch you guys off guard at, at the
10:46beginning of the year?
10:47And how would you describe how it is sort of left your plan?
10:52Well, it was a surprise because Chris Stops was here, you know, just before camp started
10:59scrimmaged, you know, played some pickup ball with the guys.
11:02Cause he went to San Diego for the player retreat and all indications from him was that
11:07he was feeling pretty good.
11:08And so when, when the news came down the day before camp, we were, we were definitely surprised.
11:15And yet the last couple of years have been very difficult for Chris Stops with his health.
11:21And so while we were surprised, I can't say that, you know, it completely came out of the
11:27blue or anything like that.
11:29So, you know, once it happened, uh, our biggest concern was for his, his health and, you know,
11:36how he was doing.
11:37Um, and then at that point, um, we had to move forward and that's what we've done.
11:42Um, the guys who are here are, are, um, committed and working hard and, you know, guys like Charles
11:50and Graham EK are taking advantage of the opportunity that's there.
11:53And that's kind of how this league works.
11:56You know, you, you, you, it, it sounds, um, you know, maybe, uh, uh, impersonal or however
12:03you want to put it, but that's how it has to work.
12:06Uh, players get injured, players move on.
12:09Um, the, the team has to keep going.
12:11The season keeps going.
12:12And that's, that's what we're doing right now.
12:14No doubt about it.
12:15I, I think also for fans who are only reading about this though, there, there is the feeling
12:20at least the sense that there's maybe something kind of dramatic behind the scenes.
12:26Like, are there any ruffled feathers about this?
12:28No, no, there's, there's nothing.
12:31I mean, you know, the, we, we just, every day we come in and, and, uh, we're, we're all
12:37together, we're all competing and we don't even talk about it.
12:40So, um, the first few days of camp for sure, it was kind of, there was a question like
12:45what's, you know, what's going on.
12:47And, um, we didn't, we weren't really sure what was happening, but, um, like I said,
12:51you move forward.
12:52Um, we all want the best for Chris stops and, um, you know, we're, we're taking advantage
12:57of, uh, you know, the, the guys who are, are here and ready to go with, with the minute,
13:04the extra minutes that are there.
13:05And we're, we're putting together, I think, uh, a really good competitive team that's connected.
13:10That our fans are going to love.
13:12And, um, you know, that's, uh, that's the only thing I'm thinking about now.
13:16And a chance to have somebody be designated as DNP teeth, I suppose, with, uh, you know,
13:22him getting those new veneers, but we'll probably, uh, hold off on that for now.
13:27Uh, Yax Alendeborg, Steve, we could ask, is he any good, or I don't even know how to
13:31ask it because each game that he plays, it seems like he gets better and better.
13:36How much is he the engine, not only for your second team, but even in the staff minutes?
13:41Yeah, he's really something, you know, especially when you consider it's, we're only eight games
13:47in and, you know, the NBA is such a huge jump from the college game.
13:51Um, not only in, in speed and athleticism, but just in, um, scheme and everything that
13:59you need to learn, uh, and see and recognize, um, this is all brand new to him.
14:04So he's still really raw and, um, he's only going to get better.
14:09So you see the skill and the confidence and, um, you're just sort of amazed at, uh, this
14:17stage that he can already be making this big of an impact, but the exciting thing is he's
14:23going to even get better and we're, we're thrilled to have him.
14:26We, we got lucky that he dropped to us and we needed that break for sure.
14:29Steve, what was with the fist pump after making the technical shot the other night?
14:35Well, I think we had missed like four straight technical free throws.
14:38Okay.
14:39You know, so if Steph's not in the game, you know, normally it would be Jimmy, but with
14:45Jimmy out, um, it's been sort of random.
14:48Um, and I think, uh, I think we've had three or four different guys step up and miss the
14:54tech.
14:54So, uh, he, the Axel, the Axel went up and made it and it was like, hallelujah.
14:59We finally made a technical free throw.
15:01Can you share, can you share with the fans, how you guys decide who gets to shoot it?
15:07Well, we, we generally just say it's based on percentage, um, you know, career percentage,
15:12but honestly, we've never really had an issue here because it's always been Steph or Clay.
15:21Um, you know, if Steph wasn't on the floor or Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler.
15:26And, and it's, it's seriously, it's something that I've never even discussed with my staff
15:31before.
15:32And, um, until, until last week.
15:34So, uh, yeah, it's something we had to sort of, uh, throw together.
15:39And we just decided let's base it on, on, uh, career percentage.
15:43And, um, but even that's a little tricky.
15:46I mean, the reason I sent the Axel to the line the other night was because he had already
15:49been there, I think six times during the game.
15:52And, you know, when you, when you go a lot, it's much more comfortable when you're at the
15:57line with nobody else on the lane line, you know, um, you go to the foul line once every
16:02couple of games, that's a weird free throw to, to shoot.
16:05So, uh, I just went with the Axel because he was in a groove that night.
16:09And thank you.
16:10Cause we love the Yaks reacts no matter, you know, what happens.
16:13He seems to be overjoyed, uh, earlier in the quarter, Draymond Green gets two texts
16:19and Dylan Brooks is the instigator.
16:21And it seemed like after that, the team really kind of woke up.
16:24Was that what you kind of discovered in the huddle that once Draymond and that whole thing
16:28happened, that the team had a bit of a wake-up call?
16:31Yeah, I think, I think everyone got fired up by that.
16:34We were a little sluggish that first half.
16:37I thought Phoenix played an incredible first half.
16:40They, they came in really, uh, fired up.
16:43They were, I think one in three coming in and they, they had only played like two games
16:47in the week.
16:48So they had plenty of practice time and they came in prepared and ferocious defensively.
16:55They were really getting after us.
16:57And then I think in the second half, after Draymond's ejection, I think our guys kind
17:02of found that competitive spirit and energy that we needed.
17:05And then Charles came in and, and really changed things.
17:08You know, the fact that he was rolling to the rim and getting some, some lob dunks and
17:13scoring inside and, and giving Phoenix's defense a different look from what they had seen in
17:19the first half.
17:20I think that, that helped as well.
17:22Steve, I wonder if you can weigh in on something that I know the, the, the warrior fan base wonders
17:28about when something like that happens with Draymond and it's nothing new, but a lot of
17:34the teammates seem to come out and insinuate that Draymond's got such a finger on the pulse
17:40of the team that, that, that is in some way kind of strategic when, when he wants to ramp
17:46it up.
17:47But we also know he's such an emotional guy and that can just come out.
17:51So is there any sort of premeditation to Draymond doing stuff like that?
17:56I think there definitely have been those moments over the years where he, he senses that we
18:05are lifeless and wants to get us going.
18:08And there's no question that, that he uses that at times just to, to, to light the team
18:15up and get us competing.
18:17And that was definitely the case.
18:19You guys bounced back and kept the win streak alive.
18:21And now up next, you get, uh, Giannis with Miami and also Clay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.
18:28Will there be any sort of reunion moments there or is that ship kind of already sailed?
18:32Cause it's happened.
18:34Well, the, uh, you know, the, the tribute videos, the welcome homes, those have already
18:40happened, but it will always be great to see both wigs and clay.
18:44Um, two of the most likable people and teammates I've ever been around.
18:49So I'm sure both will get, um, wonderful receptions from our fans tomorrow.
18:55Um, but it's not like, you know, that first return, um, with the video and the standing
19:00ovation and all that, um, you know, this is the NBA and you, you really, you, you end up
19:06playing against former teammates constantly.
19:09And I mean, it's just usually they're much lower profile examples, but, um, yeah, this
19:14is kind of routine for us at this point.
19:17And, um, but it'll be great to see those guys.
19:19Steve, I see that your, uh, your next back to back is still two weeks away is, is the
19:25plan to just play Steph and some of the other veterans every game provided that there's no
19:30back to back.
19:32Uh, there, yeah, there is no plan, um, you know, for, for, you know, anything, uh, coming
19:40up, it's, um, you know, where we are literally just taking a game by game and, and whoever
19:47can play is going to play.
19:48And then the back to backs are definitely different just because of, uh, the age and
19:53the circumstances, but, um, until there's a back to back, you know, we're, we're planning
19:57on playing everybody.
19:58Um, as mentioned always, Steve Kerr is brought to you by the Contra Costa County library, unlock
20:03free books, eBooks, and family events with your Contra Costa County library card.
20:08And, and so with that, Steve, I think when you guys are on an airplane together, the
20:12perception from the fans out here is, uh, everybody is either asleep or playing cards
20:17with each other.
20:18Is anybody reading?
20:19Do you have any readers on the plane?
20:21Oh yeah.
20:22Yeah, definitely.
20:24Lots of readers on the plane.
20:26And, uh, I would say there's some of all of the above that you just mentioned.
20:30We definitely have a group of card players.
20:33Uh, we definitely have some movie watchers and we definitely have some readers.
20:36Do you want to name any of the readers?
20:38Cause that, that's not like a secret or anything, right?
20:42Uh, well, I don't even sit, you know, I don't sit with the players.
20:47The players have their own section.
20:48I'm sitting with the coaches.
20:50And, um, so, you know, I, you know, some of our coaches are readers.
20:54Ron Adams is always reading a book.
20:56Um, you know, uh, Bruce Frazier, uh, loves to read.
21:00Um, you know, I, I just, there, there's, uh, you know, it's, it's, the NBA is an interesting
21:06life, you know, we're, uh, we're constantly in the air on buses and everybody's got their
21:12own routine that they get comfortable with.
21:14And, um, you just kind of, you know, develop that routine and, and you're constantly on
21:21the road and exhausted and recovering.
21:24And, you know, part of the way you recover from that exhaustion is doing the things that
21:28you love.
21:28And for a lot of the guys, that's just, um, reading a book and immersing themselves in
21:34something other than basketball.
21:36Have you recommended a book that you're a part of?
21:39I'm looking here at lessons from loot reflections on his legendary career in Arizona.
21:44It says here that you were a contributor.
21:46Uh, how highly do you recommend this book and is your section, the best of the sections?
21:52Um, gosh, uh, that came out a while ago.
21:55I don't, I think so, uh, I, uh, I don't quite remember what my section would be like,
22:01but I do remember getting interviewed for it for sure.
22:05Yeah.
22:05I can see it here used for $4 and 38 cents.
22:08And you know what?
22:09You're worth it.
22:10I'm going to go ahead and spend that money.
22:11I'll let you know.
22:12All right.
22:12Okay.
22:13Sounds good.
22:13Let me know.
22:14Uh, Steve and enjoy this long early season homestand and, uh, go get them tomorrow night.
22:21Yeah.
22:21We're excited.
22:22Uh, our fans have been great and hopefully we can keep our
22:25momentum going.
22:27Okay.
22:27Steve, we'll talk to you next week.
22:28Thank you, sir.
22:29Okay.
22:30Sounds great guys.
22:30See you later.
22:31All right.
22:31There it is.
22:32That's Steve Curry here on Willard and dibs tickets for all warriors home games are available
22:36for purchase at warriors.com Miami heat tomorrow, Orlando magic Saturday.
22:41That's a five 30 game Pelicans on Monday.
22:44That's back to 7.
22:45PM to close out this current six game homestand where the warriors are undefeated.
22:49Even in the event of a sellout tickets are always available at warriors.com where season
22:53ticket holders and other fans resale tickets that are 100% guaranteed by the warriors organization.
22:59And the warriors will celebrate pride night tomorrow with the heat in town.
23:03Warriors and Accenture will host a pregame pride fan fest at thrive city featuring photo
23:09opportunities, activities, and more throughout the game.
23:11Fans will also have access to a resource fair inside chase center featuring local LGBTQ plus
23:18community groups, Steve Kerr.