Kerr details Warriors' coaching staff preseason ‘retreat'

Share

Steve Kerr will be spending the next few weeks in Japan with the Team USA Basketball squad competing in the Tokyo Olympics, but he said he and the Warriors' coaching staff already have plans on when they will convene to discuss preparation for the 2021-22 NBA season.

"Well we'll have sort of ongoing coversation while the summer is going on, but ultimately we'll have a coaching retreat where the whole staff will be together in early September," Kerr told ABC 7 on Saturday. "We'll take a few days to try to really map out what we want to accomplish, how we want to get there, talk about different combinations and things we might want to try in the preseason and really try to establish a template for what we're trying to do."

Kerr will have at least one new face among the staff next season, as former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson joined the Warriors this offseason after Jarron Collins departed to pursue other opportunities. Atkinson will be Kerr's top assistant. Additionally, Jama Mahlalela and Dejan Milojević are joining the organization in player development roles.

Mike Brown, the Warriors' associate head coach, also will be in Tokyo this summer as he is the head coach for Team Nigeria. Brown's squad actually knocked off the heavily-favored Team USA in an exhibition earlier this month.

The Warriors' goals are lofty for next season, as the organization hopes to return to being a title contender after two seasons without a playoff appearance. Those two seasons have coincided with Klay Thompson being out with lower-body injuries, as the Warriors star tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals, and then tore his Achilles tendon just weeks before the 2020-21 season tipped off.

RELATED: Kerr very confident Wiseman can follow Ayton's career path

Kerr acknowledged that the Warriors struggled at attempting to accomplish multiple goals last season, trying to develop young players like James Wiseman and Jordan Poole while also pushing for a title run. Steph Curry won the scoring title and finished third in NBA MVP voting, but the Warriors fell short of the playoffs after losing back-to-back games in the new play-in tournament.

Golden State Warriors

Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

Smith calls Warriors fans ‘spoiled' for wanting more Steph foul calls

NBA greats celebrate Steph's legacy, impact at All-Star Weekend

The goal for next season, as reinforced by just about everyone within the organization, is to once again be a championship contender and bring another title to the Bay Area. Before the downtrodden last few seasons, the Warriors had appeared in five consecutive NBA Finals.

After Team USA pushes for a third consecutive gold medal, Kerr and the Warriors' staff immediately will get to work preparing to once again win the Western Conference and earn a spot in the Finals.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Contact Us