Steve Kerr has nine rings in total as a player and coach. Kerr secured 5 championships as a player and added 4 more to his collection as a coach.
Kerr is one of that exclusive group of players in NBA history to have achieved the feat of winning five or more championships as a player.
He achieved championship victories as a player with the Chicago Bulls in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and 1999.
Steve proved himself a valuable asset for top-notch teams by consistently making important shots, especially from long distances. His reliability played a significant role in helping his teams win the NBA titles.
Upon retiring, Kerr found additional success as a head coach winning the Larry O'Brien trophy on four occasions with GSW, most recently in 2022.
Steve Kerr Rings As A Coach
Steve Kerr claimed his first NBA title as a coach in the 2014-15 season. Kerr led Golden State Warriors to their first championship since 1975.
The former NBA star sealed the deal to take on the role of head coach for the Warriors in May 2014, succeeding Mark Jackson, a current ESPN NBA analyst. The agreement was worth $25 million and spanned a period of five years.
2015 Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr claimed his first NBA title as a coach in the 2014-15 season. He led the Warriors to their first championship since 1975.
After Jackson was fired, Golden State brought Kerr in the offseason. He proved to be a successful coach in his first season, guiding the Warriors to an impressive record of 67-15.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson emerged as one of the most formidable backcourts in NBA history and played vital roles in the GSW wins.
In the playoffs, the Warriors continued their dominant run. They defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Houston Rockets to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Warriors' championship run was capped off by a 4-2 series victory over LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in the championship game.
2017 Golden State Warriors
Steve earned his second NBA ring as a coach in 2017 after failing the previous season's finals against Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the addition of talented small forward Kevin Durant to the team full of star players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Warriors became even more formidable.
They had an exceptional regular season, finishing with a franchise-best record of 67-15, set by themselves in the 2014-15 campaign.
The Warriors swept Portland, Utah, and San Antonio to book a spot in the NBA Finals to meet the Cavaliers for the third time in a row. The Warriors beat the Cavaliers in five games to claim their second NBA championship in three years.
2018 Golden State Warriors
Kerr led Golden State Warriors to a back-to-back championship win in 2018 with a 4-0 sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Warriors entered the season as the reigning champion, and as expected, they dominated the regular season finishing behind the Rockets in the Western Conference league table.
Splash Brothers' Curry and Thompson remained prominent players for the Warriors, and they showcased their championship pedigree in the postseason.
The Golden State had an easy run in the playoffs beating San Antonio, New Orleans, and Houston. They captured the third NBA title in four years after thrashing the Cavaliers in the Finals.
2022 Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr demonstrated his expertise as a head coach, guiding the Warriors to the title in 2022. His strategic decisions and fostering a positive team culture again came in handy as they created a dynamic offensive system.
Kerr acquired All-Star forward Kevin Love in a trade with the Cavaliers, adding another veteran presence alongside their core players in the offseason.
With a good 53-29 regular season record, the Warriors head into playoffs facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round. They defeated Dallas to crown the conference champion before clinching the coveted trophy.
How Many Rings Did Steve Kerr Win As A Player?
Steve Kerr rings as a player counts to 5. Kerr won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and two with the San Antonio Spurs.
Kerr was part of the legendary Chicago Bulls lineup, arguably the best team of all time. He played beside Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman and completed a three-peat, winning the title in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Steve joined San Antonio Spurs the following season, securing another victory in 1999, achieving four consecutive championships.
1995-1996 Chicago Bulls
Kerr won his first championship with the Chicago Bulls in his third season at the club.
Steve played in all 82 regular-season games, averaging 8.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting .506 from the field and .515 from beyond the arc.
He played a crucial role in the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics, hitting a series-clinching shot in Game 6 to secure the championship.
1996-1997 Chicago Bulls
Kerr claimed his second NBA title in 1997 following an emphatic display against the Utah Jazz in the Finals.
He averaged 8.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Kerr was a reliable three-point shooter and a valuable backup point guard for the Bulls and made critical shots during the playoffs.
1997-1998 Chicago Bulls
The third consecutive NBA championship title came for Kerr in 1998 when the Chicago Bulls got the best of the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals.
However, he battled the 97-98 season with injuries and only appeared in 50 games, averaging 7.5 points, 1.5 REB, and 1.9 assists per game. Despite suffering from injuries, Kerr remained a significant contributor off the bench for the Bulls.
1998-1999 San Antonio Spurs
Kerr won his 4th NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in his debut season in 1999 under the tutelage of head coach Gregg Popovich.
Steve played 44 regular-season games, averaging 4.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He provided valuable perimeter shooting and veteran leadership off the bench during the campaign.
2002-2003 San Antonio Spurs
Steve secured his fifth championship victory as a player in 2003 with the Spurs. Kerr had a remarkable season playing 75 games, averaging 4.0 points, 1.2 Reb, and 1.8 assists per game.
Although his playing time was reduced, his experience and clutch shooting were valuable assets during the team's playoff run, culminating in a crown victory over the New Jersey Nets in the 2003 Finals.
Steve Kerr Career Records At A Glance
Steve Kerr had tremendous success in his career both as a player and a manager. Some of his major highlights and achievements are:
As a player
- Five-time NBA champion
- 1997 NBA Three-Point Contest winner
- 1988 Second-team All-American
- 1988 Third-team All-American
- Two-time First-team All-Pac-10
- 1986 FIBA World Championship
As a coach
- NBA champion four times [2015, 2017, 2018, 2022]
- Top 15 Coaches in NBA History
- 2016 NBA Coach of the Year
- NBA All-Star Game head coach two times
- 2020 Olympic Gold Medal winner (as an Asst. coach)
- 2015 ESPY Award Best Coach
Steve Kerr Career Records
NBA
- 3-point field goal percent [.454]
- Points per game [6.0]
Chicago Bulls
- Highest single-season 3-point field goal percent [.524] - 1994/95
- 3-point field goal percentage [.479]
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Highest single-season 3-point field goal percent [.507] - 1989/90
- 3-point field goal percentage [.472]
NCAA
- 3-point field goal percentage [.573]
- Points per game [11.2]
After finishing high school, Kerr did not receive many offers to play basketball at the college level. However, he got the opportunity to join the University of Arizona's basketball team and played there from 1983 to 1988.
In the 1987-88 season, the 6-foot-3 point guard achieved an exceptional NCAA record for 3-point percentage with an outstanding 57.3%.
Steve entered the NBA Draft the following year, and the Suns selected him in the 50th overall pick. He played one season with Phoenix appearing in 26 games, averaging 2.6 points per game.
In 1989, Phoenix traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for some future draft picks. Later, in December 1992, he got traded again, this time to the Orlando Magic.
Then, in 1993, Kerr made a deal with the Chicago Bulls and joined their team. He ended up playing with the Bulls for five seasons.
In January 1999, Kerr joined the San Antonio Spurs after a special agreement with the Bulls. Later, he switched teams to play for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2001 but only stayed with them for a season. Afterward, he returned to the Spurs.
After playing for 15 years, Kerr declared his retirement following the 2003 NBA Finals. He ventured into broadcasting after retiring and also served as general manager of the Suns before embarking on his coaching career.
Since his debut season as the head coach in 2014, Kerr has guided the Golden State Warriors to six NBA Finals, whilst winning four times.
