NBA Insider: Success as coach comes quick for Kerr

The beauty of the Timberwolves' 26-year history is that it's filled with so many forgettable moments, including one that the most successful rookie coach in NBA history (so far) didn't even remember himself.

Former Phoenix general manager and TNT analyst Steve Kerr has led Golden State to a 20-2 season start, the best ever by an NBA rookie coach. Victory No. 18 came last week at Target Center, where Kerr would have played long ago had Cleveland not once matched a Wolves offer sheet.

It was the summer of 1990 when the Wolves and coach Bill Musselman offered a second-year shooter who had just led the league in three-point percentage a multiyear deal worth $500,000 a season after the team's attempts to acquire Charlotte's Dell Curry by trade failed.

"Oh, I forgot about that," Kerr said. "Thanks for the memory lane there."

Long before he went on to play 15 seasons and win five NBA championships rings with Chicago (three) and San Antonio (two), Kerr signed an offer that more than a few people at the time believed the Wolves had overpaid.

"They did," Kerr said. "I wasn't very good. It was a hell of a lot of money for me. That kind of helped jump-start my career."

Nearly 25 years later, he has moved from champagne-soaked locker rooms to an NBA front office, from a television analyst's chair to the hot seat on an NBA bench.

"It has been a lot of fun," Kerr said. "I enjoy coming to work every day. I like being around our players and our staff. Obviously, being able to inherit such a good team and a group that has been together a couple of years and has the continuity you need has made my job a lot easier than it would have been otherwise."

Last summer, Kerr turned down Phil Jackson's offer to coach the New York Knicks and took Golden State's five-year, $25 million offer to coach for the first time. He did so to be nearer his daughters who live in California and because the Warriors already had won 47 and 51 games and reached the playoffs the two seasons before they fired Mark Jackson.

The presence of what Kerr calls basketball's best backcourt — Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, who is coincidentally Dell Curry's son — as well as a collection of long, athletic wings and big man Andrew Bogut didn't hurt. Neither did Kerr's experience as a player and executive decision-maker.

"It definitely helped being a GM, seeing the other side of it from being a player," Kerr said. "You're trying to figure out the pieces fitting and also seeing up close the daily ritual the team and coaches have. You feel it as a player, but it is different as a GM and now as a coach."

Kerr once worked televised games with Flip Saunders. Now they're working opposing NBA sidelines.

Kerr borrowed ideas from Jackson and Gregg Popovich — coaches for whom he once played — as well as from coaches whose TNT games he called every Thursday night. He has taken a team with an underappreciated defense and improved its already potent offense by creating better ball movement.

"It's just fun to feel the nerves again and have a real stake in the outcome," he said. "TV was great. I loved every second of it, and it allowed me to be with my kids while they were growing up. But they're all grown up now and it was time to change course."

NBA Short Takes

A whiz of a start

The Washington Wizards — the Timberwolves' opponent on Tuesday night — are growing up before Randy Wittman's eyes and winning games they used to lose during their 15-6 start this season.

"It's just showing resilience not to panic," star guard John Wall told reporters after the Orlando game. "Last year, and in years past, we'd panic: Take bad shots and lose those games by 10 or 15 points. We're just being patient and executing, defending and making big shots."

Hot race in West

Portland won 14 of 15 games before losing to the Wolves on Wednesday night at Target Center. At 17-5 into the weekend, the Trail Blazers still found themselves trailing Golden State by 2½ games for the Western Conference lead. Seven West teams have winning percentages of 70 percent or better.

"I know it's only 20 games in, but I've never seen anything like the Western Conference right now," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "You look at the top six, seven teams and it really is remarkable. It's still a long season. We'll start playing each other a little more now, and those games are going to be some tough battles."

Curry likes where he is

"I used to," Curry said, when asked about it. "It's a fun debate for a lot of people. Things happen for a reason. … I'm just trying to take advantage of the opportunity I have at Golden State. It has been a fun ride. It's crazy it has been six years. I would've had to buy a couple more jackets, but that's about it."

Wolves week ahead

Sunday: 6 p.m. vs. L.A. Lakers (FSN)

Tuesday: 6 p.m. at Washington (FSN-Plus)

Friday: 6:30 p.m. at Boston (FSN)
Player to watch:

He comes to Target Center on Sunday evening needing just nine points to surpass Michael Jordan and move into third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
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