Originally published on FirstSportz by Satvika Deshpande on March 26, 2024.
Golden State Warriors’ coach, Steve Kerr, faced criticism recently for reducing star player Stephen Curry’s playing time during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, resulting in a loss.
With the team currently ranking as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, each game is crucial for them to secure victories.
During the post-game press conference, Kerr defended his decision by stating that he didn’t want to overly rely on Curry to secure wins, believing that other talented players on the team could step up. However, Kerr’s decision sparked various reactions, including a notable one from former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, who humorously remarked:
“I obviously messed up. I should’ve put him [Curry] in earlier… Is that what you want me to say? I can’t count on none of them.” – Gilbert Arenas via Gil’s Arena
Arenas mocked the Warriors’ team, suggesting that Curry and Draymond Green were the only valuable players. He also criticized the reporter for asking a question that Kerr couldn’t honestly answer.
Despite defending Kerr’s faith in other players, Arenas suggested that Kerr likely regretted his decision to keep Curry on the bench and rely on others. None of the Warriors players managed to score close to 20 points against the Timberwolves, whereas Curry, despite playing only 30 minutes, recorded the highest point tally in the game, surpassing players from both teams with 31 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
The decision to bench Curry during the crucial final moments of the game backfired for the Warriors. Kerr’s choice to keep Curry sidelined during a critical period allowed the Timberwolves to make a decisive 19-8 run, ultimately leading to their victory. This decision sparked outrage among NBA enthusiasts and Warriors fans, attributing the loss to Kerr’s call.
In response to Kerr’s decision, Curry expressed surprise and suggested that the strategy of limiting his minutes during crucial periods, while intending to conserve energy, didn’t yield the desired outcome. Reflecting on previous games where he played the entire fourth quarter, yet the team still lost, Curry emphasized the need for a balanced approach to maximize their chances of success.
