Steve Kerr is a serial winner in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors head coach has nine championship rings to his name, five as a player and four as a head coach. During his playing career, Kerr was among the best sharpshooters in the league and has since found himself coaching two of the best shooters in history.
In a recent episode of Paul George’s ‘Podcast P’ show, Eastern Conference All-Star Tyrese Haliburton revealed how Steve Kerr implored Luke Walton to leave his jump shot alone. Haliburton has an unorthodox shooting form that led to multiple coaches trying to change his mechanics throughout his young career. Yet it was Kerr who believed Haliburton would become a reliable shooter.
They didn't believe in @TyHaliburton22's jumper, but Steve Kerr did 💯@PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/QIiyCC9bya
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) July 10, 2023
“When I got drafted, Luke didn’t really know anything about me,” Haliburton said. “And one of the stories he told me recently was that coach Kerr had called him because I worked out for the Warriors, and was like, we love that kid. Don’t ever touch his jumper. And Luke was like, Are you sure? And he was like, yeah. Don’t touch s—, Luke.”
Last season, Haliburton shot 40% from 3-point range for the Indiana Pacers and is shooting 40.8% in his career. With such a successful perimeter shot, it would appear that Kerr’s advice to Walton was justified.
Of course, with so much NBA-level shooting experience, Kerr is the ideal coach to decide whether or not your shooting mechanics need to be tweaked.
Fortunately, Haliburton’s pre-draft workout with Golden State gave him a platform to continue playing in his own unique way, and now, the All-Star guard is among the best young ball-handlers in the NBA.
