Lou Williams, a former NBA veteran, questioned Steve Kerr’s claim that the 2024-25 Golden State Warriors are the deepest team he has ever coached. Williams shared his perspective on Kerr’s statement during an appearance on FDTV’s “Run It Back,” suggesting that Kerr’s comment was more about motivating his current roster rather than an objective comparison with past teams. According to Williams, it is natural for Kerr to speak highly of the players he is currently coaching, as he is focused on inspiring and uniting them rather than the players from previous championship teams.
Reflecting on past Warriors squads, Williams highlighted players like Mo Speights, Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa, and David Lee from the 2015-16 team, which he described as a truly deep roster. Williams expressed doubt that Kerr genuinely believes his current team surpasses those lineups in terms of depth. Instead, he suggested that Kerr’s comments are more a strategic move to instill confidence in his players as they push through the season.
Kerr has been praising this season’s Warriors since the preseason, especially after adding players like Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton. Although the Warriors are off to a strong start with a 6-1 record, Williams believes this early success doesn’t necessarily mean this team is historically deep. He interprets Kerr’s remarks as an attempt to “light a fire” under this group, helping them maximize their potential. Williams pointed out that this team lacks Klay Thompson, one of the best shooters ever, which he sees as a limitation on their depth compared to past Warriors rosters.
Golden State’s strong start has surprised many around the league, partly due to standout performances from their bench, including Buddy Hield’s scoring contributions. However, Williams tempered expectations, noting that most of the Warriors’ wins have come against weaker opponents. He implied that Kerr’s depth claims would face a real test in the upcoming games, where Golden State will play against formidable teams like the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
If the Warriors manage to come out with a positive record after these challenging matchups, it could add legitimacy to Kerr’s statements about this team’s depth. A successful road trip against these top-tier teams would help establish the 2024-25 Warriors as a formidable force, potentially proving that Kerr’s confidence in this roster was well-founded and reaffirming the Warriors’ status as a league powerhouse.
