Steve Kerr to Step Down as USA Basketball Coach
- Steve Kerr, who led Team USA to Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, is reportedly not expected to continue as head coach for USA Basketball.
- There are speculations that Kerr will step down from his coaching position, despite his recent success with the national team.
- The decision for Kerr to not return could signal changes in leadership for USA Basketball.
Steve Kerr, the head coach of USA Basketball, is reportedly not expected to continue in his role following the team's recent success at the Paris Olympics. Kerr, who has been with Team USA since 2016, led the squad to a gold medal in both the 2016 and 2021 Olympics. However, his leadership faced scrutiny after a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Despite the criticisms, Kerr guided the team to a perfect 6-0 record in Paris, culminating in a thrilling victory over host country France in the gold medal game. Kerr's coaching decisions during the Olympics, particularly his choice to bench star players like Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid, drew significant criticism. He even expressed regret over leaving Tatum out of the first game in Paris, calling himself an "idiot." Nevertheless, the team's overall performance secured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, solidifying Kerr's legacy despite the controversies. As USA Basketball looks to the future, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue are considered frontrunners to replace Kerr. Spoelstra boasts an impressive 750-527 career record and has led the Heat to three NBA championships, while Lue has a slightly better record of 312-217 and famously led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a historic comeback against Kerr's Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. The new head coach will likely prepare the team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, marking a new chapter for USA Basketball.