The Modesty And The Passion Of Steve Kerr

November 20, 2019

Steve Kerr has a cool eight NBA Championships. He’s got five as a player and three as a coach. He won three times with Michael Jordan on the legendary 90s Bulls, twice with the Spurs, and most recently, he picked up three more as the coach of the Warriors. Kerr knows what it takes to be a part of a winning team, and it stems from a lesson he learned growing up. His father used to tell him, 

Steve, you’re a modest fellow – with plenty to be modest about.

Roger Bennett brought the quote up in an interview and they both had a laugh over it. Kerr says the humility instilled by his father’s words really had meant everything to him. At the end of the day, it’s a reminder to keep one’s feet on the ground – because the day after the title is won, it’s back to practice. Kerr said he saw the wisdom of his father echoed by something Phil Jackson constantly told them too, 

Treat every practice, every play, as if the fate of the world rests upon your effort… with full awareness that this is a fricken basketball game and nobody cares. 

The titles, the championships, and the accolades all feel great – but win or lose, we’re back to work after the glory fades. The same is true when we don’t win. Be modest, be passionate, and take pride in the process, not just the outcome.