Steve Kerr 'distances' Stephen Curry from LeBron James: "He reminds me a lot of when he played with Michael Jordan back then"

S teve Kerr has spent much of his basketball career surrounded by some of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen.

Having won championships alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls before building a dynasty with Stephen Curry at the Golden State Warriors , the coach has a unique perspective on what makes an exceptional player.

And, as Curry continues to produce outstanding performances at 38, Kerr has found himself thinking back to his playing days alongside Jordan rather than drawing comparisons with other modern greats, including LeBron James .

Speaking on ESPN's NBA Tip-Off with host Ernie Johnson , Kerr explained how watching Curry night after night brings back memories of sharing the court with the six-time NBA champion.

“Honestly, it really does remind me of what it was like to play with Michael Jordan back in the day,” Kerr said. “Every single night you just are amazed, and you marvel at what he’s capable of doing no matter what the defense does but also just the longevity of it.”

The comparison is particularly interesting given Kerr's experience with both generations of basketball greatness. He was part of the Bulls teams that dominated the NBA during the 1990s, winning three championships alongside Jordan between 1996 and 1998.

He later became the architect of Golden State's modern success, guiding Curry and the Warriors to four championships.

His latest comments highlight how impressed he remains by Curry's ability to maintain an elite level of performance despite being in the latter stages of his career.

Curry continues to defy expectations at 38

The Warriors superstar has started the 2026-27 campaign in impressive fashion after an injury-disrupted previous season. Curry appeared in just 43 games last year, with patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner's knee, limiting his availability.

There had been questions about how much the issue might affect his performances, but his early-season displays have offered plenty of encouragement.

After six appearances, Curry is averaging 30 points per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.

His scoring has included a spectacular 44-point display against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 28, when he helped Golden State secure a 119-114 victory.

He followed that performance with 31 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and another 34 against Phoenix, demonstrating that his shooting and offensive influence remain major problems for opposing teams.

Kerr believes the similarities with Jordan extend beyond the numbers, particularly when it comes to how opponents attempt to contain them.

“To see night after night, defenses doing everything possible to slow Steph down like they did with Michael, and yet the love for the game, the competitiveness, the passion, the desire to put on a show for the fans, there’s such great comparisons to be made there,” Kerr said.

The Warriors coach also emphasised how special it is to witness that level of talent over an extended period: “You get to experience the thrill of seeing them do their thing night in and night out, and it never gets old.”

Kerr's comments inevitably invite comparisons with LeBron James, another superstar who has maintained an extraordinary level of performance deep into his career.

However, his decision to reference Jordan reflects his personal experience rather than a direct dismissal of James.

The coach has collected nine NBA championships during his career, five as a player and four as a coach. Jordan won six titles with Chicago, while Curry has been central to Golden State's four championship triumphs under Kerr.

With Curry still producing 30-point performances at 38, the coach clearly believes he is witnessing something familiar.

For Kerr, the experience of watching his current superstar continues to bring back memories of playing alongside Jordan during one of basketball's greatest dynasties.