Steve Kerr’s comments on the Golden State Warriors’ roster after the 2026 trade deadline had a tinge of optimism. The head coach weighed in on the team’s playoff chances when addressing the media after their narrow 101-97 win over the Phoenix Suns.
Despite heavy links to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State didn’t land the Milwaukee Bucks superstar. Instead, they dealt Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for center Kristaps Porziņģis. In another move, they traded Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a 2026 second-round pick.
Steve Kerr Believes the Golden State Warriors are Primed for a Deep Postseason Run
According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Kerr believed the Warriors had what it took to make a push for the playoffs, even if their championship prospects had dwindled. With superstar Jimmy Butler out for the season with a disastrous ACL injury, the Bay Area team’s title chances dipped drastically.
Steve Kerr on what could still be ahead for the Warriors this season
“We still have a good team. Even without Jimmy, we can make a playoff run. The ceiling is absolutely lower. I’m not going to sit here and lie.” pic.twitter.com/UiwBwSJPTs
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 6, 2026
“I think we still have a good team, a very good team,” Kerr said. “And even without Jimmy (Butler), I feel we can make a playoff run. The ceiling is absolutely lower. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say we can be as good as we were with Jimmy.”
“There’s no way. But I believe in these guys, I believe in the chemistry, the veteran leadership,” he added. “If we have good health, I think we can make a really good push and be a playoff team. And when you’re a playoff team, you never know how it plays out.”
The Warriors are presently without their mainstay, Stephen Curry. The sharpshooter missed the last two games with a knee issue, and his return timeline to the floor is unclear.
On Thursday, it took a collective effort from the Warriors to edge the Suns at the Footprint Center. Gary Payton II and Al Horford came off the bench to add 15 and 13 points, respectively, while the starting guard duo, Pat Spencer (20 points) and De’Anthony Melton (17 points), kept the team in the hunt.
The win sees the side improve to 28-24, good enough to take eighth place in a stacked Western Conference. The Warriors face an uphill task without Curry and Butler, but the addition of Porziņģis provides them with the much-needed two-way spunk the side has lacked since Butler’s injury.
That said, it remains to be seen how the center meshes with Kerr’s pacy offense. With 30 regular-season games remaining, the Warriors will hope that Curry and Porziņģis remain healthy to take the team to the playoffs.
