Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Downplays Play-In Berth Amid Disappointing Season

Kerr bluntly told a radio host not to congratulate him on the Warriors securing a play-in tournament spot.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:35am

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The Golden State Warriors have clinched a spot in the NBA's play-in tournament, but head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that this is nothing to celebrate. The Warriors currently hold a 35-38 record in what has been an up-and-down season, and Kerr was not thrilled when a radio host congratulated him on the team's play-in berth.

Why it matters

The Warriors are used to championship-level success, so simply making the play-in tournament is not an achievement worth praising for Kerr and the team. They are dealing with key injuries, including to star player Stephen Curry, and the season has not met their usual high standards.

The details

In a recent radio interview, host Steiny congratulated Kerr and the Warriors on clinching their play-in spot. Kerr bluntly responded, "Don't do that." The Warriors secured the play-in berth after defeating the Brooklyn Nets, but the win was not convincing, with the team trailing for much of the game before a strong fourth-quarter comeback. While the Warriors are now locked into a top-10 seed in the Western Conference, their exact position is still undecided, and seeding will be important heading into the postseason.

  • The Warriors clinched their play-in spot on March 26, 2026.

The players

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who has led the team to multiple NBA championships but is now dealing with a disappointing season.

Stephen Curry

The star player for the Golden State Warriors, who has missed 23 straight games due to a knee injury and may not return before the end of the regular season.

Brandin Podziemski

A player for the Golden State Warriors who has been averaging 13.1 points per game and will need to continue carrying the load with key injuries to other players.

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What they’re saying

“Don't do that.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach

What’s next

The Warriors will need to determine their exact seeding in the play-in tournament, which will impact their path to the playoffs. They will also hope to get Stephen Curry back from injury before the postseason begins.

The takeaway

This season has been a disappointment for the Warriors, who are used to championship-level success. While they have clinched a play-in spot, their coach Steve Kerr made it clear that this is not an achievement worth celebrating, as the team continues to deal with key injuries and an overall underperforming season.