With the Golden State Warriors missing the playoffs in 2026, the future of core members such as Steve Kerr and Draymond Green will inevitably come into question.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is already on it. With the head coach Steve Kerr wrapping up the final season of his contract, Smith dished his thoughts on the situation during a Monday, April 20, segment on ESPN.
Amid his rant, Smith claimed that the Warriors haven’t been in the playoffs in four seasons. That set some fans off.
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 14: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors speaks to the media prior to Game One against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 14, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
“They haven’t been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022–that’s four years away from the playoffs,” Smith said.
“Again, you can pay guys a lot less than 17 million a year to miss the playoffs. We understand that. There’s no question that he knows what he’s doing, there’s no question that he’s an exceptional coach, there’s no question that champions who have produced for him emphatically believe in him.”
NBA Fans Call Out Stephen A. Smith For His Warriors Rant
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: Stephen A. Smith speaks at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on February 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The Warriors did not, in fact, miss the playoffs for four years in a row.
How fans reacted to the statement on X:
Kachinuel: Loud and completely wrong is the only brand Stephen A knows how to sell anymore. Absolute clown behavior.
P_Chris92325: They made the playoffs the year after they won a title; they made the playoffs last year and injuries derailed that lol what? This is how idiots on twitter sound. Except he has a platform to speak on.
Worldfao: The media has taken a GIANT step back in their articulation of âanalysisâ and have leaned heavily on high level sentimental narratives which donât make sense. They need to be held accountable to their craft like players are everyday.
SentThis Already: Stephen A Smith always known for his accuracy in reporting. Midseason form ð.
CharliQuinnMMA: Itâs really sad that the world wide leader in sports lets a guy like Stephen A Smith parade around like heâs something special. Guy doesnât even watch basketball.
Tahive01: How can you pay a man millions to analyze sports (mainly football and basketball) while he has no idea what he is talking about? Lol
C_Reilly5: They did? I couldâve sworn Iâve seen them in the playoffs a couple times since
After the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the 2022 NBA Finals, the Warriors cracked the playoffs in the following season.
Not only did the Warriors make it in 2023, but they defeated the Sacramento Kings 4-3 in the first round. The Warriors came up short in round two.
While the Warriors missed the postseason in 2024, they were right back in it in 2025. They got in through the Play-In, defeating the Houston Rockets in the first round. The run ended in round two, when the Minnesota Timberwolves took care of business with a 4-1 win.
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