Steve Kerr is the luckiest man in the world. Never a starter when he played professional basketball, the University of Arizona standout had the good fortune to play with Michael Jordan and get coached by Phil Jackson, one of the all-time great basketball minds. And what Kerr lacked in talent — despite his off-the-bench prowess at three-point shots for the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs — the future Phoenix Suns general manager made up for in smarts. We can attest to this after a night out with Kerr, when he was here, drinking and watching the Shaq-era Suns play. A shrewd National Basketball Association analyst, which he proved as a broadcaster, Kerr now is head coach of the Golden State Warriors, his first foray into the world of leading extremely tall men in baggy shorts while wearing a suit that cost thousands of dollars.
Thing is, when Kerr started playing in the NBA after college, he says, he simply hoped he could remain in the league long enough to earn a pension. Instead, he insinuated himself into the potent offense of the Jordan-fueled, Jackson-led Bulls as a three-point specialist. If only his time working for Suns owner Robert Sarver had been as productive as his seasons with Chicago! Seemed the GM job here wasn't right for him, and he decided after a couple of seasons to leave as the Suns went deep into rebuilding mode. Despite his game-winning threes in playoff situations in the NBA (and the distinction of having been punched by Jordan in practice), Kerr's never before been on a seat as hot as the one he now occupies. He has assets: the great young point guard Stefan Curry, for starters. We wish him well.
