Steve Kerr after 4th championship as a coach: 'This title might be the most unlikely one' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Steve Kerr, a former teammate of all-time NBA great Michael Jordan, now has nine championship rings, five as a player and four as a coach. He led the Golden State Warriors to the 4th title in 8 years with a Game 6 road victory on Thursday, 103-90.

Player of the Game EFF 36 Stephen Curry Points 34 Accuracy 12-21 Rebounds 7 Assists 7

The San Francisco-based club has now won seven NBA championships in franchise history, with the Larry O'Brien Trophy most recently making its way to Northern California in 2015, 2017, and 2018 in this recent run.

Warriors' head coach admitted the team's fourth championship of his reign had been the most unexpected.

"This might be the most unlikely one [title] just from a standpoint where we have been the last couple of years," Kerr said. "A lot of unknowns for injuries: Klay, Draymond, Steph at the end of the year.

But I have been blessed. I hang around superstars — and if you hang around superstars, good things happen. That guy Curry is the reason for all this."

The 56-year-old specialist continued his praise of the NBA's most prolific 3-point shooter, who now has four rings, two regular-season MVPs, two scoring titles, one Finals MVP, an All-Star Game MVP, four first-team All-NBA selections, and eight All-Star presence.

"What he does at his size is so different from the traditional greats in this league. I have said it many times, Steph reminds me so much of Tim Duncan. Obviously, totally different players but just from humanity, talent, and confidence standpoint. It's a wonderful combination that makes everybody want to win for him.

But Steph is ultimately why this run has happened. Much like Timmy in San Antonio. I am happy for everybody but I am thrilled for Steph. To me, this is his crowning achievement what has already been an incredible career," Kerr spoke about the front-runner of the team and the NBA Finals MVP.

The coach also mentioned the new players, who stepped up big time in the latest championship run.

"A new group around our core — it's very special to see [Andrew] Wiggins, [Kevin] Looney, Gary Payton, and Jordan Poole just how far they have come. It takes a full team effort to do this."

Last but not least, Steve Kerr expressed admiration for the defensive performance of his team.

"Our defense was spectacular in this series, especially, in the last three games. The Celtics had the best defense in the league but we were right behind them. I think what made this group really special, besides the obvious with Steph, was the defensive intensity and versatility.

Draymond is the guy to point to, the leader of it, but the additions of Wiggs, Gary Payton, the return of Klay, the emergence of Looney — it all factored in. I have yet to see a team that wasn't elite defensively win a championship," Kerr concluded.

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