Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors have been off to a shaky start in the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Warriors are going through a three-game losing streak at the moment. They have sustained defeats to the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and Portland Trail Blazers. The defense has been dismal, conceding 110 or more points in this stretch, prompting brutal criticism from Kerr.
Steve Kerr Gets Critical of Warriors’ Defense
Kerr is going through his 12th season as a head coach in the NBA, all with the Warriors. He has gone down as one of the best coaches in league history, winning four titles throughout his time in Golden State.
However, this season has presented challenges for him and the team. While the experienced star core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III, and Draymond Green has provided a solid foundation, the rest of the roster has been exposed to weaknesses. While certain key players have played at a high level during some moments, the limited size and athleticism have presented issues on the defensive side of the ball.
Kerr reflected on the defensive problems following the Warriors’ loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday, per reporter Kenzo Fukuda. His comments came after Buter emphasized the importance of having pride in performing well on that side of the ball.
“There’s some of that. The activity level often just covers out long coverage if you’re flying around. There were a lot of clips the other night that the activity level wasn’t there. There were several missed cuts, back cuts behind us that shouldn’t have happened,” Kerr said.
“I don’t care how we categorize it; what I care about is that we don’t give up a d*** back cut with the game on the line.”
Asked Steve Kerr if some of the defensive issues come down to what Jimmy Butler said about taking more pride in that area:
“There’s some of that… I don’t care how we categorize it, what I care about is that we don’t give up a damn back cut with the game on the line.” pic.twitter.com/Npq1KC52Yu
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) November 23, 2025
The three-game skid hasn’t been pleasant for Golden State. In those losses, they averaged 110.7 points per game on 44.1% shooting from the field, including 33.6% from three.
On defense, they are giving up 119.3 points per game on 46.1% shooting overall, including 33% from downtown. The defensive breakdowns during key moments of these games will be something Kerr looks to rectify moving forward.
What’s Next for Steve Kerr and Warriors?
Kerr and the Warriors have the talent to be a serious contender in the playoffs. However, it will require the veteran star core to remain healthy while seeing the younger players become more consistent in their production.
Golden State has a 9-9 record on the season, holding the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. They are 1.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and 2.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, while trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves by two games and the Phoenix Suns by 2.5 games.
The Warriors have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball after 18 games. They rank 21st in scoring offense (114.8), 12th in scoring defense (114.9), 23rd in offensive rating (113.6), and 11th in defensive rating (113.7).
The Warriors will seek a return to the win column in their next matchup. They will be at home when they host the Utah Jazz on Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. ET.
