Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, June 18th.
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Warriors add Nicholas Kerr, former Santa Cruz Warriors head coach and son of Steve Kerr, to their NBA coaching staff.
- ESPN outlines a hypothetical trade sending Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to Golden State.
- The Athletic details the history building up to Thunder guard Jalen Williams’ signature Game 5 performance.
The Golden State Warriors are bringing back a familiar face to their coaching staff.
After spending the past two seasons as head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team’s G League affiliate, Nicholas Kerr will return to Golden State’s bench for the upcoming NBA season.
Congratulations to Nicholas Kerr for being called up to rejoin the @warriors staff! pic.twitter.com/oyNTukcYj4
— Santa Cruz Warriors (@GLeagueWarriors) June 18, 2025
The son of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Nicholas made a name for himself through his work with the organization’s young talent in the G-League. He played a key role in developing players like Trayce Jackson-Davis, Quinten Post, Gui Santos, and others who all went on to contribute at the NBA level.
Kerr previously held multiple support roles with the Warriors before taking over in Santa Cruz back in 2023. In two seasons, he led the G-League squad to back-to-back postseason appearances.
In a corresponding move, Warriors head video coordinator Lainn Wilson has been named the new head coach of the Santa Cruz team.
Warriors head video coordinator Lainn Wilson has been named the new head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors. Wilson has been instrumental in scouting and analytics
Nicholas Kerr will return to Golden State’s staff after serving as head coach in Santa Cruz for two seasons
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) June 18, 2025
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, June 18th:
Warriors News:
A look back on Nicholas Kerr’s two-year tenure as head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors
Coach Kerr’s resume as a #SeaDub
Second most wins as head coach in franchise history
Consecutive playoff appearances
13 NBA Call-Ups
Helped the #SeaDubs win their fourth @nbagleague Franchise of the Year award pic.twitter.com/g7jUtcGyfb— Santa Cruz Warriors (@GLeagueWarriors) June 18, 2025
NBA offseason 2025: 8 Giannis, Bucks trades that would shake up the league | ESPN
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Los Angeles Lakers get:
Dallas Mavericks get:
2031 first-round pick (via L.A. Lakers)
2025 second-round pick (No. 41)
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Jonathan Kuminga (via sign-and-trade)
2029 first-round pick (via Warriors)
2031 first-round pick (via Golden State)
2030 first-round swap (with L.A. Lakers)
Where fans rank Giants’ Devers trade among recent Bay Area moves | NBC Sports Bay Area
The Giants pulled off the most shocking trade in recent Bay Area sports history by acquiring superstar slugger Rafael Devers in a blockbuster deal with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
At least, according to local fans.
NBC Sports Bay Area asked fans on X which of the Giants’ trade for Devers, the Warriors’ trade for forward Jimmy Butler midway through the 2024-25 NBA season and the 49ers’ trade for running back Christian McCaffrey during the 2023 NFL season was the most shocking.
NBA free agency 2025: Shooting guard class light on star power but not rotation help | The Athletic
41. Pat Spencer, Warriors (R)
The Warriors’ feisty combo guard could end up back in Golden State on a two-way, for which he is still eligible, or with another team. The Warriors can make him a restricted free agent with a $2.5 million qualifying offer, but that would push him onto the main roster, and I’m not sure there is room for him on a squad that may only carry 14 players for tax purposes.
Bucks’ head coach Doc Rivers thinks the Warriors would be the ‘perfect’ team for Seth Curry
NBA News:
Jalen Williams’ NBA Finals breakout powered by years of hard work and conviction | The Athletic
That sense of the moment, the way he ran toward the heat, embraced the risk of disappointment? That’s a byproduct of struggling last year in the Western Conference semifinals. He was overwhelmed by the moment against the Dallas Mavericks, in just his second year.
His last big Game 5 came against Dallas last year, on this same floor. He totaled 12 points on 13 shots in 39 minutes. The West’s best team lost in the second round to the Mavs.
He was widely declared unready for the tall task of being a No. 2 on a contender. It was a long summer, with rough film sessions.
A certain darkness is needed to see the stars.
LeBron James bemoans ring culture in NBA: ‘It’s never enough’ | ESPN
“I don’t understand where it came from. I don’t know where it started,” he said. “I just hope we have to appreciate more of what guys have been able to accomplish, what guys have been able to do.
“A ring is a team accomplishment, and if you happen to have a moment where you’re able to share that with your team, that should be discussed. ‘This team was the greatest team,’ or ‘that team’ — you can have those conversations.”
Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray tells emotional story about former Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich helping his mom
Dejounte Murray reveals that Gregg Popovich tried to use his own money to move Dejounte’s mom to San Antonio after finding out she had been shot in the leg in 2017:
“It was so crazy—a lot of my people don’t even know this. From family, friends, and the penitentiary… Pop didn’t… pic.twitter.com/yC05pGH9Dg
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) June 18, 2025
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
A brief history of the 41st pick
2014: Nikola Jokić, Serbia (Nuggets)
Rookie stats: Did not play (overseas)
Career trajectory: Three-time MVP, champion, future Hall of Famer, arguable top-10 all-time player
Okay, so … sometimes you get the 41st pick and use it on a player who changes the game forever, is an all-time great, and averages a triple-double. Would be a really smooth way to do the whole two timelines thing.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.