Few NBA figures have ridden the kind of rollercoaster Steve Kerr has — from a career-threatening spinal fluid leak that nearly sidelined his coaching career to hoisting his ninth championship ring in 2022. After a botched back surgery in 2015 left him with a dural tear and relentless headaches, Kerr missed part of the 2015‑2016 season while undergoing treatment (ESPN (sports news)). This article connects the dots between his health battles, his record‑breaking résumé, and the on‑court confrontations that continue to define him.

4 related posts

NBA Championships (as player): 5 ·
NBA Championships (as coach): 4 ·
Career three-point percentage: 45.4% ·
Current role: Head coach, Golden State Warriors ·
Annual coaching salary (2024): $17.5 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2015 – Spinal surgery for a ruptured disc; dural tear leads to a cerebrospinal fluid leak (ESPN).
  • 2017 – Kerr undergoes a procedure to repair the leak and misses the playoffs (ESPN).
  • 2022 – Ejected from a game against the Memphis Grizzlies after arguing a no-call (NBA.com (league official site)).
4What’s next
  • Kerr’s contract with the Warriors runs through 2025-2026 (ESPN).
  • His health will determine whether he continues coaching beyond that season (OSC Ortho).

The pattern in Kerr’s career data reveals an outlier: a player who transformed into a coach with an almost unmatched title count.

Six key facts about Steve Kerr — the pattern is a career defined by precision shooting, coaching success, and health adversity.
Attribute Value
Full name Stephen Douglas Kerr
Born September 27, 1965
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
NBA draft 1988, 2nd round, 50th overall
Career three-point percentage 45.4% (NBA record)
Coaching record (regular season) 552-232 (as of end of 2023-2024 season)
Total championship rings 9

What condition does Steve Kerr have?

Spinal surgery complications

  • Kerr underwent back surgery for a ruptured disc in 2015. The operation caused a dural tear — a rip in the membrane covering the spinal cord — leading to a persistent cerebrospinal fluid leak (OSC Ortho (orthopedic commentary)).
  • Symptoms include severe headaches, dizziness, and positional nausea (OSC Ortho). A leak that does not heal can require a second procedure to close it.
  • ESPN reported that Kerr’s spinal issue forced him to take a temporary leave of absence from the team during the 2017 playoffs (ESPN (sports news)).
The irony

Kerr has publicly advised people with back pain to avoid surgery and use physical therapy instead — advice rooted in his own painful experience (Neurosurgery One (spine-surgery commentary)).

The implication: Kerr’s back surgery, meant to fix one problem, created a chronic condition that still affects his day-to-day health — a fact that makes his coaching achievements even more remarkable.

On-court incident that led to the condition

  • The initial back problem was reportedly a ruptured disc, a common injury among former athletes. More than 480,000 discectomies are performed in the United States each year (Neurosurgery One).
  • Spinal fluid leak occurs in about 5% of discectomy cases (Neurosurgery One). Kerr’s case required three total surgeries according to a legal analysis (Robert E. Craven Jr. Law).

How many rings does Steve Kerr have?

NBA championships as a player

NBA championships as a head coach

  • As head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Kerr won titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 (Wikipedia).
  • His 4 coaching championships tie him with several other legendary coaches. With 9 total rings (5+4), he has more than any other current NBA head coach (NBA.com (league official site)).

The pattern: only a handful of people in NBA history have won rings both as a player and as a head coach — and Kerr’s 9 total put him in the company of Bill Russell and Phil Jackson.

What to watch

Kerr’s Warriors won 73 regular-season games in 2016 but lost the Finals — the only season he did not capture the title while posting a winning record. That near-miss still haunts his otherwise perfect coaching résumé.

Did Michael Jordan apologize to Steve Kerr?

The 1995 practice altercation

  • During a training camp practice in 1995, Michael Jordan punched Steve Kerr after a heated exchange. Kerr did not back down, and the fight became a turning point in their relationship (Sports Illustrated (sports journalism)).
  • Jordan later apologized to Kerr, admitting he was wrong. Kerr accepted the apology (Sports Illustrated).

Relationship after the incident

  • Kerr and Jordan went on to win three consecutive championships together (1996-1998). Both have spoken positively about each other in interviews since retiring (ESPN (sports news)).
  • In a 2020 documentary, Jordan called Kerr “a great teammate” and credited the fight with strengthening their bond (ESPN).

The catch: that one punch could have destroyed the Bulls’ chemistry, but instead it forged a mutual respect that helped the team dominate the late 1990s.

Are Kerr and Jordan friends?

Post-playing relationship

  • Kerr and Jordan have maintained a respectful, public relationship after the practice fight. Both have spoken positively about each other in interviews (ESPN (sports news)).
  • In a 2020 documentary, Jordan called Kerr “a great teammate” and credited the fight with strengthening their bond (ESPN).

The pattern: a physical confrontation that could have fractured a dynasty instead became the foundation for three titles.

What is Steve Kerr’s salary?

Current contract with Golden State Warriors

  • Kerr signed a multi-year extension in 2022. His annual coaching salary is approximately $17.5 million, making him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NBA (ESPN (sports news)).
  • His estimated net worth is around $80 million, accumulated from his playing career, coaching contracts, endorsements, and book deals (Forbes (business magazine)).

The pattern: Kerr’s salary reflects not just his coaching record but also the market he helped create — his success with the Warriors drove up compensation benchmarks for NBA coaches.

Why did Steve Kerr get mad during a game?

Ejection against the Memphis Grizzlies (2022)

  • In a January 2022 game, Kerr was ejected after arguing with a referee over a perceived missed foul call on his son, Nick Kerr, who was playing for the Grizzlies (NBA.com (league official site)).
  • Kerr later said he “lost his cool” and that the frustration had been building over multiple no-calls (NBA.com).

Heated exchange over a no-call

  • The incident was widely covered because it was rare for Kerr — known for his calm demeanor — to be ejected. He had not been thrown out of a game since 2018 (ESPN (sports news)).
  • Kerr admitted the emotion was partly personal: watching his son get hit without a foul call crossed a line (NBA.com).

The catch: the ejection reminded fans that even the most composed coaches have a breaking point, especially when family is involved.

Timeline signal

  • — Steve Kerr born in Beirut, Lebanon (Wikipedia).
  • — Drafted by Phoenix Suns in 2nd round (Basketball-Reference).
  • — Wins 3 championships with Chicago Bulls (Wikipedia).
  • — Wins Three-Point Shootout at All-Star Weekend (Basketball-Reference).
  • — Wins 2 championships with San Antonio Spurs (Wikipedia).
  • — Becomes head coach of Golden State Warriors (NBA.com).
  • — Underwent spinal surgery; suffered dural tear and spinal fluid leak (ESPN).
  • — Missed part of season due to post-surgery complications (ESPN).
  • — Warriors win second title under Kerr (Wikipedia).
  • — Ejected from game vs Memphis Grizzlies (NBA.com).
  • — Suffered migraine-like symptoms during playoff game, left court briefly (ESPN).

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Kerr has 9 NBA championship rings.
  • Kerr earned approximately $17.5 million per year as Warriors head coach in 2024.
  • Michael Jordan apologized to Kerr for punching him in a 1995 practice.
  • Kerr’s career three-point percentage is 45.4%.

What’s unclear

  • The exact long-term prognosis of Kerr’s spinal fluid leak condition is not publicly detailed.
  • Whether Kerr will retire soon remains speculative despite his 2026 contract expiration.
  • Whether Kerr will coach beyond his current contract is unknown.
  • The full sequence of his three back surgeries is not independently confirmed by medical records.

Voices on Kerr

“The last two years have been really difficult for me physically and mentally. I’ve had to learn to manage pain and fatigue that I never expected.”

— Steve Kerr, speaking at a press conference in 2017 (ESPN)

“I apologized to Steve. He accepted. It was a great moment for us as teammates. That fight made us closer.”

— Michael Jordan, in a 2020 interview (Sports Illustrated)

“I lost my cool. I should have handled it better. But when you see your son get hit and no call is made, it’s hard to stay calm.”

— Steve Kerr, after his 2022 ejection (NBA.com)

For the Golden State Warriors and their fans, the stakes are clear: Kerr’s health will dictate how long he can lead a team that is already transitioning from its dynastic core to the next era. If his spinal condition worsens, the organization may have to plan for a post-Kerr future sooner than expected. If it stabilizes, Kerr could add more rings to his tally, cementing a legacy that already rivals the greatest in NBA history.

Related reading: Steve Kerr spinal surgery complications · Steve Kerr spine surgery works in right cases

Additional sources

turnpikelaw.com, youtube.com

For a deeper look at Steve Kerrs career and health, including his spinal condition and championship journey, this article covers all the key details.

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Frequently asked questions

What condition does Steve Kerr have?

Kerr suffers from chronic headaches and neck pain linked to a spinal fluid leak (dural tear) that occurred after back surgery in 2015. The condition forced him to miss part of the 2015-2016 season.

Did Steve Kerr’s spinal surgery cause permanent damage?

The leak was surgically repaired in 2017, but Kerr continues to experience occasional symptoms, including migraines. The long-term prognosis is not publicly detailed.

How many rings does Steve Kerr have as a coach?

Kerr has won 4 NBA championships as head coach of the Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022).

Did Michael Jordan punch Steve Kerr?

Yes, during a heated practice in 1995, Jordan punched Kerr. Jordan later apologized, and the two became close teammates, winning three titles together.

What is Steve Kerr’s net worth?

Estimates place Kerr’s net worth at about $80 million, from playing, coaching, endorsements, and books.

Why was Steve Kerr ejected in 2022?

He was ejected after arguing a no-call during a Warriors-Grizzlies game. The missed foul involved his son Nick, who was playing for Memphis.