Warriors coach Steve Kerr ‘doesn’t think he’ll get fined’ for admission about LeBron James free agency whiff

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that the possibility of LeBron James joining the organization never appeared particularly realistic before the superstar ultimately signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason.

With the 2026-27 NBA season approaching, Kerr discussed Golden State's connection to James during the latest episode of the “Tom Tolbert Show.” The Warriors coach joked that he “doesn't think he'll get fined” for admitting that James' potential move to the Bay Area felt more like outside speculation than an impending transaction.

“I don't think it's exactly earthshattering news or I don't think I'll get fined for saying like it never really felt like he was, you know, coming here,” Kerr said. “It was more speculation than anything. I think we would have had a much better sense that, you know, something was going to happen.”

Kerr also revealed that Warriors fans have approached him since James' decision and expressed relief that the longtime Golden State rival did not join the franchise.

“It's been really interesting though hearing fans around the Bay,” Kerr said. “Like, you know, people will randomly come up to me and say, ‘I'm glad we didn't get Bron' and I'm like, really? And they're like, ‘Yeah, it's like he's not supposed to be on our team. He's a rival.'”

Steve Kerr was open to coaching LeBron James with Warriors

James developed a lengthy rivalry with the Warriors during his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, facing Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 through 2018.

Kerr compared the idea of James joining Golden State to other legendary rivals eventually becoming teammates.

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“And I get that as a sports fan,” Kerr said. “It'd be like, should Magic and Bird have played on the same team? So, I mean, just as a coach and having coached him in the Olympics, sign me up!”

The possibility of James joining the Warriors generated attention earlier in the offseason. A fan posted a video of his family's encounter with Kerr and told the coach that Golden State needed to acquire James.

Kerr responded with a tongue-in-cheek message.

“Oh, we got him. Put that on Twitter,” Kerr said.

That prediction did not become reality. James instead signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving Golden State without the blockbuster addition.

Although Kerr indicated that the Warriors never appeared particularly close to landing James, he made it clear he would have welcomed the opportunity to coach his former Olympic player.