Kerr remembers feeling bad for Brown after Dubs eliminated Kings in 2023 originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Tuesday is coming NBA play-in tournament game between the Warriors and the Sacramento Kings will add another story to Northern California’s growing basketball tradition.
But for now, fans are remembering the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs when Golden State narrowly defeated Sacramento in seven games.
The series was a thriller that fans hope to see recreated during this season’s play-in. However, for 10-year Warriors coach Steve Kerr, defeating the Kings comes at an emotional cost.
“I think the main thing, honestly, from what I remember, was shaking [Kings coach] Mike Brown’s hand after,” Kerr told reporters at Warriors practice on Monday. “You get to these elimination games and you play and compete against people that you’re really close to.
“There is a feeling of euphoria when you win, but you know your good friend is fighting and it hurts. These moments are always very difficult when you train against a good friend.”
“You know your good friend is struggling and it hurts.”
Steve Kerr recalls his emotional exchange with Mike Brown after last season’s Game 7 win against the Kings pic.twitter.com/8LeM8mTtmL
– Warriors at NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 15, 2024
Kerr was overjoyed by Golden State’s series victory over Sacramento, but couldn’t help but feel melancholy about the end of Brown’s season.
Brown served as Kerr’s top assistant coach with the Warriors in the Bay from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, Kerr spent two of his last three years as an NBA guard under then-San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Brown.
The two have grown closer over the decades, but are forming a major postseason rivalry.
“I was feeling a lot of joy for our team [in 2023] and sadness for Mike for everything he has meant to me over the years,” Kerr added.
After coaching alongside Kerr at Golden State, Brown was offered the head coaching job at Sacramento.
Brown broke Sacramento’s 16-year NBA playoff drought after leading the Kings to a 48-34 finish last season. It was Kerr’s team that cut Brown’s season short.
Tuesday’s clash is poised to be another classic, and the crowd at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento will be hostile.
“You know, the atmosphere for all four home games there [Golden 1] it was wonderful [and] incredibly loud,” Kerr recalled.
Warriors-Kings will leave one of the coaches heartbroken.
Kerr, however, will likely have heavy feelings either way.
