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Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors hugs head coach Steve Kerr after a win.

The Golden State Warriors badly needed a response after a frustrating stretch on the road. They got one in San Antonio.

Stephen Curry delivered 46 points. Jimmy Butler added steady shot creation. And by the final buzzer, the Warriors walked off with a 125-120 win that eased some of the pressure around the team.

But after the win, Steve Kerr offered a thoughtful response about Curry’s performance that added a different layer to the night.

When asked about Curry’s performance, Kerr joked that it felt “routine.” Once he learned it was the superstar’s 73rd career 40-point game, the coach quickly shifted gears. His next words carried a little more weight.

Speaking to reporters, Kerr said Curry is the reason the Warriors have become what they are. He followed it up with a comparison Spurs fans know well.

“He’s our Tim Duncan,” Kerr said in his postgame presser. “He’s the sun in our solar system. Everything we do revolves around him.”

It was a moment that added real perspective to Curry’s impact — not just on the game, but on the entire franchise.

Why Kerr’s Words Hit Different for the Warriors

Comparisons like this are not thrown around lightly, especially by someone with Kerr’s resume. He won championships alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago. He played with Tim Duncan in San Antonio during the Spurs’ dynasty years. And for more than a decade, he has coached Stephen Curry, guiding him through four championships and multiple MVP seasons.

So when Kerr brings up Duncan as the frame of reference, it speaks to his understanding of what a true franchise cornerstone looks like — because he has lived it from both sides.

Duncan was the anchor of the San Antonio Spurs for nearly twenty years. A culture-setter. A steadying force. A superstar who lifted the entire organization, season after season.

Curry fills that same role for Golden State. His arrival transformed the franchise from the inside out. Offensively, the Warriors became something entirely new once the system was built around his shooting and movement. Even the rest of the league shifted in response, adapting to the pace and spacing his style demanded. Four titles. Two MVPs. An identity that still centers on everything he brings.

When Kerr calls him “the sun,” it’s not hyperbole. It’s a reflection of how central Curry is — and has been — to everything the Warriors have built.

A Compliment That Extends to San Antonio Too

Kerr’s comment didn’t just spotlight Curry. It also nodded directly to the legacy of Tim Duncan, a player Kerr knows as well as anyone after winning two titles alongside him in San Antonio.

Duncan has long been viewed as the model for what a franchise pillar should be. No flash. No unnecessary noise. Just elite consistency, leadership, and a standard of winning that stretched across three different decades. His approach shaped an entire era of Spurs basketball.

So when Kerr mentions Duncan while discussing Curry, it’s less about placing players on tiers and more about recognizing a familiar blueprint. Both stars transformed their organizations. Both brought stability, identity, and championship DNA. And both became the defining force behind extended runs of success.

For a young Spurs team building around Victor Wembanyama, the reference also acts as a quiet reminder of what that role once looked like in San Antonio — and what it can look like again.

Warriors’ Bottom Line

The win over the Spurs mattered. Golden State needed something to steady themselves after a rough stretch on the road, and Curry’s brilliance did exactly that.

Kerr’s comments added another layer to the night. Curry sets the tone for everything the Warriors run. His presence anchors the group. And his game still lifts their ceiling when they need it most.

Beyond the numbers, Curry defines the team’s identity. He’s been the constant through every era of their success. And he remains the type of franchise cornerstone every organization hopes to build around.

So when Kerr drew the comparison to Tim Duncan, it framed Curry’s impact in a way that felt fitting — a reminder of just how foundational he is to everything Golden State continues to chase.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins

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