Steve Kerr says his players coaching “had nothing to do with me being disrespectful”

Steve Kerr meant no disrespect to the Phoenix Suns for letting his Golden State Warriors draw up plays in the huddle, so he says.

Multiple Warriors, including David West, Andre Iguodala, and Draymond Green, drew up plays from the bench during the Warriors 46 point victory over the Suns on Monday.

Draymond not even waiting for the clipboard anymore, he's confidently strolling out with it now pic.twitter.com/c4sQS1PEUJ

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 13, 2018

While some, Suns’ players included, thought the tactic was disrespectful. However, Kerr explained to reporters the decision had nothing to do with respect. Instead, it had more to do with his team trying to find their mojo again.

“It had nothing to do with me being disrespectful,” Kerr said. “It had to do with me trying to reach my team. I have not reached them for the last month. They’re tired of my voice. I’m tired of my voice. It’s been a long haul these last three years. I wasn’t reaching them, and we thought it was probably a good night to pull a trick out of the hat and do something different. I thought the players responded very well. I just feel like when we are focused, we are really tough to beat and tonight we were focused. Just having to count on each other and not having to hear my voice—and this sort of sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher, parents, whoever’s voice that is. At this point, that’s who I sound like to them. They needed a different voice.”

That’s not a terrible explanation, but would Kerr pull this move against a contender just like he did against the basement-dwelling Suns? Certainly not. But, you can’t doubt the result – respectful or not. If the Suns felt disrespected, they should have played harder and won. Instead, they got beat by Kerr and a player-coached team.

[Complex]