Stephen Curry has seen Steve Kerr fired up before, but this time was different.
The Golden State Warriors star called his head coach’s sideline explosion against the LA Clippers “crazy” after a 103–102 defeat that slipped away late in Los Angeles.
The Warriors had their chances, even without Kerr in the final minutes. Curry scored 27 points and hit two huge threes to give his team hope, but he fouled out with 43 seconds left and watched the ending from the bench.
Jimmy Butler missed a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer that could have stolen the win. Still, the defining moment of the night came in the fourth quarter, when emotion took over on the Warriors’ sideline.
Steve Kerr’s ejection sparks emotion on the bench
According to ESPN, Steve Kerr was ejected early in the fourth quarter after a string of officiating calls went against his team.
The first came when Curry’s floater was waved off, with officials ruling the foul occurred before the shot. Moments later, Gary Payton II’s layup was blocked by John Collins, who appeared to touch the ball after it hit the backboard. The missed goaltend sent Kerr into a rage.
The Warriors coach charged onto the court, shouting at all three referees before being restrained by assistants and players. He was given two technical fouls and tossed from the game, leaving lead assistant Terry Stotts to take over.
The team responded to the chaos with fight. Golden State outscored the Clippers by nine points after the ejection, closing the gap in a game that had started slipping away. The energy from the sideline carried over, and for a moment, it looked like another trademark Warriors comeback was on the cards.
Stephen Curry reacts to Steve Kerr’s fire
After the game, Curry revealed how close he was to erupting himself before Kerr stepped in. Speaking in a postgame clip shared by Joey Linn on X, he said, “To be honest, I was gonna do that but I saw him. That’s why I fouled Kris Dunn because I was watching coach go crazy and I was appreciative of that.
“Two crazy calls in a row… I love that. That fire from Steve. Somebody had to do it tonight.”
The guard’s reaction summed up the Warriors’ mindset. Frustration has been building after a season of close losses and uneven officiating.
The defeat dropped Golden State to 19–18 but kept them within reach of a playoff spot. It also marked Curry’s first foul-out since 2021.
Kerr’s outburst may have cost them the game, but it reignited something more important. In a season of challenges and scrutiny, it reminded the locker room that belief and emotion still define the Warriors’ identity, even in defeat.
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