Steve Kerr’s Take on Injuries in the NBA

Steve Kerr has shared his thoughts on the rising number of soft tissue injuries affecting players this season. The head coach of the Warriors mentioned to reporters that the team’s medical staff thinks “wear and tear, speed, pace, and mileage” are contributing elements to these injuries.

Kerr highlighted the faster pace of gameplay and the tight schedule, noting that the Warriors have already had five consecutive games, including one against Golden State on Tuesday night in Orlando and another in Miami on Wednesday.

Research from ESPN indicates that the NBA is currently playing at its quickest average pace since the 1988-89 season. Just this season, both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama have suffered injuries—specifically a groin strain and a calf strain, respectively.

Players like Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday are also dealing with calf strains.

“Across the league, everyone understands that it’s easier to score when you beat guys inside the floor and get out in transition,” Kerr pointed out. He emphasized that when all teams adopt this high pace, it changes the game significantly. He noted, “Everyone can shoot 3s, so everyone has to cover to 25 feet.” He added, “Players are running faster and farther. We try to manage this as best as we can, but with games almost every night, it’s quite challenging.

Kerr has consistently advocated for shortening the NBA regular season, stating, “I bring it up a lot” and expressing that this adjustment could enhance the product overall.

However, he also recognized the difficulties in aligning everyone’s thoughts on reducing the season’s length, mainly because such a change would likely impact revenue. Still, he appreciated the league’s efforts to protect players by avoiding congested schedules of four out of five nights.