Steve Kerr tops late Hall of Famer Al Attles for most coaching wins in Warriors history

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a special locker-room ceremony, Wilhelmina Attles, the wife of late Hall of Famer Al Attles, presented Steve Kerr the game ball after he passed her husband to become the all-time winningest Warriors coach.

Kerr earned his 558th regular-season victory on Saturday night as Golden State beat the New York Knicks 97-94.

“It was a great moment being awarded the game ball by the Attles family, it was really beautiful to sort of be honored by their presence,” Kerr said. “Obviously Al Attles is Mr. Warrior forever and the record is kind of surreal to even think that this could happen. But as I said earlier it's a reflection of our organizational strength and stability and the talent level over the last 11 years since I've been here, so I'm incredibly lucky to be part of this organization and part of this city. Very humbled by the honor because of Al's greatness and what he means to the franchise.”

The 59-year-old Kerr has provided a stable presence on the bench and led the Warriors to their first championship in 40 years during his first season of 2014-15. He has long leaned on his deep coaching staff, too.

To begin the 2015-16 season, top assistant Luke Walton guided Golden State to a 24-0 start and 39-4 mark overall before Kerr returned following an extended absence as he dealt with debilitating complications from back surgery.

Those victories still count for Kerr's total. He is now 558-302 — reaching the mark in his 860th game while it took Attles 1,075.

Attles died in August at age 87. He coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, coach, general manager and team ambassador.

Kerr once even paid paid tribute to Attles by dressing up in a 1970s-style suit and appreciated all Attles meant to the franchise for six decades. Including his signature style — “he looked way better in the leisure suit than I do,” Kerr said.

“Growing up in L.A. in high school as a Laker fan and hearing Chick Hearn talk about Al Attles on the sidelines, watching him on TV, watching their championship in ‘75, he was an iconic NBA figure," he said. "I didn’t even think I could ever coach in the NBA, so when you sort of put it all together and end up here, passing this icon, it makes no sense. I'm very blessed to live the life that I do and to have been on this path.”

Draymond Green credits Kerr for changing the Warriors' culture and building a family-first feel that transfers onto the court.

“He changed everything,” Green said. “He has been as important as anybody in what this organization's become. The things that he's taught me about winning, not just me, but I tried to pick up on little, small things. There's one thing that he's taught me about winning, especially when it comes to playoff time, that I won't share until I'm done playing because I refuse to give his secret away, but it's a pretty incredible one.”

A former NBA guard who played alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, Kerr served as general manager of the Phoenix Suns from 2007 to 2010 and worked in TV as a color commentator before becoming Warriors coach.

He has regularly referred to his great fortune to have the chance to work with Stephen Curry, Green and Klay Thompson — a trio that captured four NBA championships. Thompson departed last offseason to join the Dallas Mavericks.

Kerr also has used his platform to speak out on social issues such as gun violence and racial injustice.

“He's brought the best out of us,” Curry said. “We joke all the time both of us could have been in New York. Fate would have it that we were here.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on after an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on after an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, center, speaks with forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr waves after an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls out to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Thursday, March 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures toward players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in San Francisco, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stands during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Portuguese striker Joao Paulo Fernandes Paulinho scored a hat-trick on Thursday and Mexican reigning champion Toluca had a 4-2 victory over MLS side LA Galaxy in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.

Nicolas Castro open the scoring in the 12th minute and Paulinho added goals in the 43rd and sealed the win in the 73rd and 85th minutes for the Diablos Rojos.

The 33-year-old Paulinho, who played for Sporting Clube before joining Toluca in the summer of 2024, has won three scoring titles in Mexico and recently was called up by Portugal for friendly matches against Mexico and the United States ahead of the World Cup.

Gabriel Pec in the 66th minute and former Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus in the 77th scored for the Galaxy which has not won in Mexico in this tournament since 2008.

The teams will play again next Wednesday in California.

Midfielder Ozziel Herrera scored a first-half goal and the UANL Tigres defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal.

Herrera put the home side ahead in the 51st minute before center back Jackson Ragen scored an own goal in the 76th minute.

The second leg will be played next Wednesday in Seattle. The winner will face either Nashville or Club America in one of the semifinals.

Tigres could have taken the lead toward the end of the first half, but former Atletico Madrid player Angel Correa missed a penalty, sending it over the crossbar.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Julian Aude, center, passes the ball to Marco Reus of the United States' LA Galaxy to score against Mexico's Toluca during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Toluca, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Marco Reus of the United States' LA Galaxy, left, is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Mexico's Toluca during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Toluca, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Paulinho of Mexico's Toluca (26) is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal against the United States' LA Galaxy during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Toluca, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Paulinho of Mexico's Toluca celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal against the United States' LA Galaxy during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Toluca, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Ozziel Herrera of Mexico's Tigres, right, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal against the United States' Seattle Sounders during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza)

Jackson Ragen of the United States' Seattle Sounders after scoring an own goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match against Mexico's Tigres in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza)

Mexico's Tigres players celebrate after Jackson Ragen of the United States' Seattle Sounders scoring an own goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza)

Mexico's Tigres players celebrate after Jackson Ragen of the United States' Seattle Sounders scoring an own goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza)

Ozziel Herrera of Mexico's Tigres celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against the United States' Seattle Sounders during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg soccer match in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza)