Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, an architect of four franchise championships, has agreed on a two-year, $35 million contract extension that’ll make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history, agents Rick Smith and Dan Eveloff of Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday.
Kerr’s deal was set to expire at the end of the season, and his $17.5 million a season extension takes him through the 2025-26 season.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich makes more annually, sources say, but he holds the dual title of president and coach. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra signed an eight-year extension that pays him approximately $15 million a season, sources said.
The agreement completes months of talks between Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kerr’s representatives at Priority Sports, assuring the Warriors that they’ll hold onto the coach whose .655 winning percentage is fifth in league history.
Securing Kerr to remain with Dunleavy Jr. to lead the organization has been a priority of owner Joe Lacob. The Warriors never reached an extension with former president and GM Bob Myers, who exited at the end of the 2023 season.
Kerr, 58, has established himself as an iconic figure in the Warriors’ dynasty, and now commits to staying through what could become a transitional phase of an organization built around Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson for more than a decade.
Kerr, who has four titles and six appearances in the NBA Finals, won his 500th game last Thursday. That made him the fifth-fastest coach to do so in history.
Kerr is also Team USA’s national coach. He’ll coach the Americans in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Kerr led the Warriors to 73 wins in the 2015-16 regular season, the most in NBA history. In his ninth season, Kerr is 501-264 (.655) as Golden State’s coach.
This story originally appeared on ESPN
