Steve Kerr’s T-Shirt Goes Viral After Warriors Lose To Rockets
Steve Kerr's T-Shirt Goes Viral After Warriors Lose To Rockets
On May 2, 2025, an unusual moment of unity occurred amid the intensity of the NBA playoffs. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka temporarily set aside their competitive rivalry to pay tribute to basketball legend Gregg Popovich, who had announced his retirement as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
Both coaches appeared at their respective pregame press conferences wearing identical “Thanks, Pop” t-shirts before Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. This gesture highlighted the profound influence Popovich has had throughout the NBA coaching ranks.
It’s only fitting two Gregg Popovich disciples, Steve Kerr and Ime Udoka, coach against each other in Game 6 tonight.
Here’s Kerr (wearing a Thanks, Pop! shirt) when I asked him about that full circle moment: pic.twitter.com/o9nOcISTjd
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) May 2, 2025
Kerr spoke eloquently about Popovich’s impact, noting that “almost any matchup, you seem to be coaching against a Pop disciple.” He emphasized that beyond Popovich’s impressive records and championships, his most significant contribution was “the impact he’s had on so many of us — our lives, our families, and of course our coaching development.”
The connection between these three coaches runs deep:
- Steve Kerr played under Popovich at San Antonio (1998-2001, 2002-2003)
- Ime Udoka both played for Popovich (2007-2009, 2010-2011) and later served as his assistant coach
- Both Kerr and Udoka have adopted elements of Popovich’s coaching philosophy in their careers
This moment of solidarity was particularly meaningful given the competitive context. The Warriors and Rockets were locked in a tense playoff battle, with elimination on the line for Houston in Game 6 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
After the tribute, however, the competition resumed in full force. Udoka’s Rockets defeated Kerr’s Warriors 115-107, extending the series to a decisive Game 7 and ensuring that the two Popovich protégés would face off one more time.
Popovich’s coaching tree extends throughout the NBA, with his former players and assistants now leading teams across the league. His influence goes beyond tactical basketball knowledge to encompass leadership principles and personal development that have shaped the careers of numerous coaches.
The simultaneous tribute from two playoff opponents demonstrated the respect Popovich commands across the league, transcending team rivalries and competitive pressures.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
