Steve Kerr has been around the league for a long time, as a player and a coach, and he’s concerned about a worrying trend.
Soft tissues injuries are dominating the first five weeks of the NBA and are keeping big stars out the game. Some recent examples include Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama.
Steve Kerr was asked if he’s concerned about the increase of soft tissue injuries being seen in players and if he thinks they’re linked to the rising pace of the game and the gruelling schedule.
“I’m very concerned,” Kerr said, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“The pace difference is dramatic. This team tonight [the Magic] has really upped their pace compared to last year. I think across the league, everybody understands now that it’s just easier to score if you can beat the opponent down the floor, get out in transition. But when everybody’s doing that, the games are much higher paced, faster paced, and then everyone has to cover out to 25 feet cause everybody can shoot 3s.
“So we have all the data. Players are running faster and further than ever before, and so we’re trying to do the best we can to protect them, but [we] basically have a game every other night, and it’s not an easy thing to do.”
The NBA is playing at its fastest average collective pace since the 1988-89 season, per Slater.
Kerr recently admitted that the Warriors 2025-26 schedule has been unlike anything he’s ever seen.
“The Miami game will be our 17th game in 29 days in 13 different cities. It’s been the toughest early schedule I’ve ever been a part of in my entire NBA life,” said Kerr on 95.7 The Game.
The storied coach says he’s voiced his opinions in league meetings about the schedule, but it all comes down to money in the end.
“I mean, the tricky part is everyone, all the constituents, would have to agree to take less revenue,” Kerr said.
“2025 in America? Good luck, in any industry. Imagine some big company saying, ‘You know what? We’re not as concerned about our stock price. We’re actually concerned with employing people and giving people a stable job and making our product better.'”
He added: “Come on, that’s not happening. We know that.”
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