Report: Steve Kerr escapes NBA fine after deleted tweet criticizing officials

Jason Owens
·Staff writer
Warriors coach Steve Kerr deleted his response to the NBA on Thursday night. (AP)
Warriors coach Steve Kerr deleted his response to the NBA on Thursday night. (AP)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sent out a tweet Thursday with a video of Houston Rockets guard James Harden apparently taking an extra step before hitting a big three-pointer against the San Antonio Spurs.

Here’s the video:

And here’s a screenshot with the text of said tweet.

Why aren’t we showing you the actual tweet here? Because it doesn’t exist any more. Kerr deleted it. Publicly criticizing officials is the quickest path to donating to the NBA’s fine system. Kerr, apparently becoming keenly aware of that fact after the tweet, took it down.

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But the internet never forgets, and screenshots like this make it impossible for a high-profile coach like Kerr to hide his NBA-deemed transgressions. Right?

Well, the NBA was certainly aware of his criticism of officials appearing to let the star player for the Warriors’ chief rival get away with one. But, according to an ESPN report, the league just didn’t care.

“According to a source with knowledge of the situation, since Kerr’s message was intended to be private, the league didn’t see a reason to issue a fine,” ESPN’s Chris Haynes wrote.

So, the league is apparently just gullible. Or OK with feigning gullibility to let Kerr slide.

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The league is citing, reportedly, Kerr’s old-man excuse of not knowing how to use new-fangled technology to let him escape a fine that no player in the history of the league would get away with.

Here’s Kerr’s explanation, in his own words.

“I thought it was a direct message,” Kerr told reporters during a rambling story about contemplating Pinot Noir and appetizers with his wife and daughter. “My new iPhone is killing me.”

OK, Steve. Also, bravo, Steve.

As ridiculous as that story was, it apparently had the intended consequence of letting Kerr keep the $20,000 or so that would normally be going to the NBA right now.