Although the Warriors are expected to undergo another deep and successful playoff run this year, their roster looks quite different than in years past. Their core group of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant remains in tact, but the Warriors added both bright-eyed rookies and seasoned veterans to deepen their roster.
While making an appearance on Murph & Mac Monday morning, Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown praised Steve Kerr on how his development process helps both the youth and experienced players of Golden State move along in their careers.
“The development process Steve has in place is a good plan. It’s specific for each guy and each guy knows that if his number is called, and it can be called at any time, he needs to be ready to step out there and perform. That’s what you’re starting to see,” Brown said. “It’s been a process that I think not only they’ve enjoyed, but we’ve enjoyed watching them move along in the right direction.”
For the young studs, such as Jordon Bell and Patrick McCaw, Brown said they’re, “in a fantastic culture. You have All-Star players in their prime that you can learn from. You have a great coach in Steve Kerr. Not only that, but there’s a chance that you’re going to be able to play. It’s not like you’re going to be banished to the bench until you’re in your third year or you reach the point that people think you’re figuring it out. You’re allowed to play through your mistakes and you’ll be coached through your mistakes.”
Likewise, Brown sees the careers of Omri Casspi and Nick Young getting a boost under Kerr’s leadership.
“I know if I’m a borderline player on the edge of possibly being out of the league or maybe I want my career to go in a different direction, to be in a winning environment and seeing what it’s like to win at a high level and learn a little bit from these guys and coaches can help your career take off too,” Brown said. “In my opinion, you’re seeing that with Casspi, you’re starting to see that too with Nick Young.”
Moreover, Kerr’s strategy involves everyone who’s available to contribute in any situation, regardless whether the Warriors are winning or losing. He gives each player on the roster the opportunity to contribute to the outcome of each game, despite their varying levels of talent.
“Steve’s done a fantastic job,” Brown said. “He’s a guy as you see throughout the course of a game we might all 13 guys who are on our active roster in the first half of any game, doesn’t matter how close the game is. So what that does for our guys, it not only makes them pay attention during the practices and shoot arounds we have, but they do a lot of work with individual coaches and/or on their own so that they can stay ready because they know their number could be called at any given time.”
To listen to the full interview check out the podcast below, and skip to 1:55 for Brown on Kerr.