Steve Kerr sarcastically predicts Celtics fans will welcome him in Boston – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

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Steve Kerr knows exactly how Boston Celtics fans will greet him Wednesday night at TD Garden. Or does he?

The Warriors coach gave a perfect answer Tuesday when asked how warm a reception he expects from Celtics fans, who directed their anger at Kerr this summer when he benched Boston forward Jayson Tatum at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“I’m excited. I think the fans are going to really cheer me on,” Kerr told KNBR’s “Tolbert & Copes” in a response dripping with sarcasm. “Because you know what I did this past summer — I played Jrue Holiday and Derrick White a lot, and considering both guys are Celtics and the fact that Tatum played a big part in things as well, all three four important factors and we won the gold medal.

“This is America. It’s the day after Election Day. I think Celtics fans will welcome me with open arms, and maybe even bouquets of roses. … Heartfelt.”

Tatum received two DNP CDs (did not play by coach’s decision) throughout the Olympics and sometimes played sparingly in games. Boston fans were unhappy with Tatum’s role in Kerr’s rotations, though the Celtics star took the high road when asked about his role.

However, Kerr’s decisions worked in Team USA’s favor as they defeated France to take home the gold – but he understands why it was so difficult for fans to see a player of Tatum’s caliber ride the bench.

“I talked to the team before the first practice and we talked about it,” Kerr previously told “Tolbert & Copes” in an August interview. “The elephant in the room is that every guy in here is going to go into the Hall of Fame eventually. So how do we figure out how to play, how to put together (lineup) combinations, and I said, ‘I’m going to ask all of you to commit to just winning and putting everything else aside, all the usual NBA BS .’

“The boys all did really well, other players were really good in supporting Jayson and Joel (Embiid), but these are guys who are world-class players and nobody is used to seeing them play so few minutes. So it’s just a strange sight, I understand.”

Many Celtics and NBA fans joked online that Kerr had created a monster after Tatum torched the New York Knicks in the 2024-25 season opener.

And while Boston fans may be doing their own burning of Kerr on Wednesday, the Warriors coach is likely more concerned with making sure Tatum doesn’t walk out on Golden State.

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