Chapter 259: The Magician.
Before Han Sen's time travel, the Lakers hiring J.J. Redick as their head coach was seen as a bold move. However, the Warriors had already set the precedent with a similar gamble.
Steve Kerr, the Warriors' new hire, came with a decorated resume as a player—three rings with Michael Jordan's Bulls and two more with the Spurs. Post-retirement, he became a successful TNT analyst and even spent three years as the Suns' GM. Yet, Kerr had zero coaching experience.
Interestingly, his contract size revealed the Warriors' belief in him, especially compared to Mike Malone's deal. This breed of coaches isn't about intricate tactics but rather grand strategic philosophies.
Such coaches are typically paired with strong assistant coaches, and the Warriors brought in Alvin Gentry as Kerr's lead assistant. Gentry, though less famous, boasted a rich coaching history, starting as an assistant with Gregg Popovich in 1989. His standout achievement was leading the aging 2009–10 Suns to the Western Conference Finals.
Veteran fans might recall Gentry's high praise for Han Sen during his Suns tryout. He even defended Han publicly when his minutes were limited during his early Cavaliers days. Gentry's coaching evolved over time, eventually embracing the fast-paced "Seven Seconds or Less" offense under Mike D'Antoni.
If Kerr's hire was puzzling, Gentry's addition signaled the Warriors' intention to go all-in on offense.
Han Sen was one of the few who took special interest in this news. Historically, similar coaching experiments often failed—names like Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Chauncey Billups came to mind. These legendary floor generals, supposedly tactical masterminds, often struggled as coaches.
The Warriors, though, were an exception—a unique product of Stephen Curry's brilliance colliding with shifting league rules.
Rondo, listening to Han's analysis, seemed puzzled. Few expected Kerr's hire to matter much. Even within the Warriors, grumblings arose as anonymous players voiced their support for Mark Jackson.
Nike didn't see the Warriors as a threat either. But when the season tipped off, the Warriors would soon redefine "surprise."
As Han and Rondo discussed, Cavaliers GM David Griffin arrived for a visit. He had pressing matters to address, particularly the upcoming press conference.