[Emerman] Steve Kerr has one rule for his son (Nicholas): “You’ve got to call me ‘Dad.’” Not ‘Steve,’ not ‘coach.’ ‘Dad.’ On the bench, in huddles, during meetings — Dad… “I think acknowledging it is important,” Steve said. “Yeah, he’s my son, he’s on our staff.”
Several times throughout this grueling, dramatic, injury-ravaged season, Steve Kerr has asserted that he’s still enjoying life as head coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr’s happiness index is of particular interest because of his choice to play out this season without a contract beyond this year. The greatest coach in franchise history has decided to wait until the offseason to figure out what’s best for him and the organization.
So it’s extra notable that Kerr is still finding beauty in the struggle, as he likes to put it. He’s experiencing beauty in the small, sentimental moments too: moments with his oldest son, Nicholas, a first-year assistant coach.
“My favorite games are the 5 p.m. games that we have,” Steve told The Standard. “Because generally Nick brings [his two daughters], they’re in the family room all game, then after the game we all convene in my office. The girls are crawling around the floor, the family’s in there, we’re enjoying each other’s company, having a beer, having some food.”
Kerr has won four titles as the Warriors’ head coach. He has managed more adversity in the past 12 seasons with Golden State than conceivable, including Draymond Green’s turbulent moments, the egos of a superteam, serious health challenges, and departures of key figures like Bob Myers and Klay Thompson.
But not until this season has he worked directly with Nicholas, sharing a bench, breaking bread at regular family gatherings, Steve’s two granddaughters growing up in front of him.
“And these are memories that will last forever,” Steve said. “And they’re not going to happen for too much longer. That bums me out, so I’ve got to really enjoy it while I can.”
No one — not even Steve or Nicholas — can see into the future. They don’t know how their careers will unfold.
How does Nicholas hope his father’s time holding a clipboard ends?
“He coaches somewhere where he’s happy,” Nicholas said. “I know he’s happy here. I have no idea what he’s going to do next year.”
As Nicholas, 33, establishes himself as an emerging talent on his 60-year-old father’s bench, their similarities have manifested. Nicholas wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps ever since he was in high school. Steve didn’t know coaching was his “dream job” until he stumbled into the world of Steph Curry 12 years ago.
They both want to enjoy coaching for as long as they can — it’s like an addiction for them. It’s rewarding, draining, mentally stimulating, difficult, and competitive.
But they’re at opposite stages of their careers. The future Hall of Famer is mulling over the prospect of putting a bow on an illustrious career, and the young assistant can’t imagine life without coaching.
“I just love doing it,” Nicholas said. “It’s fun. Coach basketball? It’s not a real job. I’ll do it as long as I’m allowed to, as long as someone will have me do it. And then when I can’t do it, I’ll go coach high school or middle school.”
Steve Kerr has one rule for his son: “You’ve got to call me ‘Dad.’”
Not ‘Steve,’ not ‘coach.’ ‘Dad.’ On the bench, in huddles, during meetings — Dad.
The noun is more purposeful than a sign of respect. It’s part of their shared worldview of the nepotistic dynamic at play. They don’t shy away from it. They embrace it.
“I think acknowledging it is important,” Steve said. “Yeah, he’s my son, he’s on our staff. There’s no denying that he’s had some doors open for him just based on that relationship. But he has to earn everything. I think what I’m most proud of is that he recognizes that. He works his butt off every day.”
Nicholas reflects “all the time” about how he was able to benefit from a “much easier route” to entering the NBA than other aspiring coaches. He served as an intern for the San Antonio Spurs — one of Steve’s former teams, coached by one of his closest friends, Gregg Popovich — in 2017 after just one graduate assistant season at Cal. Then he joined the Warriors’ video room.
Nicholas doesn’t feel external pressure to live up to his family name but holds himself to a high standard to live up to it. As a self-described “nepo baby,” the only thing he can do is take advantage of his fortune.
“If I were born into any other family, I’d be working in business or something,” Nicholas said. “Yeah, you have to reflect on it a lot. It’s fortunate.”
Source: https://sfstandard.com/2026/04/07/steve-kerr-warriors-nicholas-kerr-son/