Few people want to support a collection for Steve Kerr due to his team flying from Dallas to Houston. However, the Golden State Warriors head coach was more frustrated with the back-to-back games his team had to play before the All-Star Game festivities this weekend. After a four-point loss in Dallas, Kerr’s Warriors managed to secure a 105-98 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, yet that didn’t stop Kerr from voicing his concerns about the NBA schedule and subtly criticizing the league office.
Kerr’s comments came before Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler scored 27 and 19 points, respectively, against the fourth-best team in the Western Conference. While this issue didn’t affect the team’s performance on Thursday, it highlighted a deeper concern regarding ratings. The NBA is struggling significantly in that aspect, and although Luka Dončić’s potential trade to the Los Angeles Lakers is hoped to improve the poor ratings, Kerr’s remarks about the league’s prioritization of ratings over player health are telling.
“It’s a tough back-to-back, that’s what makes this loss even more frustrating,” Kerr expressed after Wednesday’s 111-107 loss to the Mavs. “We got to get into Houston at 3 o’clock — whatever it is — because the NBA, in its infinite wisdom, makes us play an 8:45 game. They clearly don’t care about rest or player health; it’s just ratings — and all that stuff. So, I get it. Everyone’s gotta do it. The whole league’s gotta do it. It is what it is.”
Steve Kerr said he doesn’t know if Steph Curry (37 minutes) and the other veterans will go in Houston tomorrow night: “That’s what makes this loss more frustrating. We’re gonna get into Houston at 3 o’clock because the NBA in its infinite wisdom makes us play an 8:45 game.” pic.twitter.com/QMSpwKTtaB
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 13, 2025
Kerr’s frustration goes beyond the inconvenience of back-to-back games; it serves as a broader critique of the NBA’s priorities. When the league’s scheduling appears focused more on ratings than on player health, it signals a significant issue. Kerr may be venting, but he is addressing a real concern—if the league continues to push players to their limits for TV ratings, it risks further damaging what is already a fragile situation.
