SAN FRANCISCO — In a special locker-room ceremony, Wilhelmina Attles, the wife of late Hall of Famer Al Attles, presented Steve Kerr the game ball after he passed her husband to become the all-time winningest Warriors coach.
Kerr earned his 558th regular-season victory on Saturday night as Golden State beat the New York Knicks 97-94.
“It was a great moment being awarded the game ball by the Attles family, it was really beautiful to sort of be honored by their presence,” Kerr said. “Obviously Al Attles is Mr. Warrior forever and the record is kind of surreal to even think that this could happen. But as I said earlier it’s a reflection of our organizational strength and stability and the talent level over the last 11 years since I’ve been here, so I’m incredibly lucky to be part of this organization and part of this city. Very humbled by the honor because of Al’s greatness and what he means to the franchise.”
The 59-year-old Kerr has provided a stable presence on the bench and led the Warriors to their first championship in 40 years during his first season of 2014-15. He has long leaned on his deep coaching staff, too.
To begin the 2015-16 season, top assistant Luke Walton guided Golden State to a 24-0 start and 39-4 mark overall before Kerr returned following an extended absence as he dealt with debilitating complications from back surgery.
Those victories still count for Kerr’s total. He is now 558-302 – reaching the mark in his 860th game while it took Attles 1,075.
Attles died in August at age 87. He coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, coach, general manager and team ambassador.
Kerr once even paid paid tribute to Attles by dressing up in a 1970s-style suit and appreciated all Attles meant to the franchise for six decades. Including his signature style – “he looked way better in the leisure suit than I do,” Kerr said.
“Growing up in L.A. in high school as a Laker fan and hearing Chick Hearn talk about Al Attles on the sidelines, watching him on TV, watching their championship in ‘75, he was an iconic NBA figure,” he said. “I didn’t even think I could ever coach in the NBA, so when you sort of put it all together and end up here, passing this icon, it makes no sense. I’m very blessed to live the life that I do and to have been on this path.”
Draymond Green credits Kerr for changing the Warriors’ culture and building a family-first feel that transfers onto the court.
“He changed everything,” Green said. “He has been as important as anybody in what this organization’s become. The things that he’s taught me about winning, not just me, but I tried to pick up on little, small things. There’s one thing that he’s taught me about winning, especially when it comes to playoff time, that I won’t share until I’m done playing because I refuse to give his secret away, but it’s a pretty incredible one.”
A former NBA guard who played alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, Kerr served as general manager of the Phoenix Suns from 2007 to 2010 and worked in TV as a color commentator before becoming Warriors coach.
He has regularly referred to his great fortune to have the chance to work with Stephen Curry, Green and Klay Thompson – a trio that captured four NBA championships. Thompson departed last offseason to join the Dallas Mavericks.
Kerr also has used his platform to speak out on social issues such as gun violence and racial injustice.
“He’s brought the best out of us,” Curry said. “We joke all the time both of us could have been in New York. Fate would have it that we were here.”
