Warriors’ Steve Kerr Ejected After Heated Exchange in Q4 vs Clippers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ejected in the fourth quarter of a close loss to the Clippers. The incident followed a controversial no-call on a goaltending play involving John Collins. Assistant Terry Stotts and even rapper Snoop Dogg reacted strongly as tempers flared late in the game.
Steve Kerr Ejected vs. Clippers: Quick Looks
- Steve Kerr ejected after heated argument over missed goaltending call
- Received two technical fouls and was escorted off court
- Incident occurred with 7:57 left in a one-point game
- John Collins’ contested block triggered the exchange
- Assistant coach Terry Stotts said the no-call was “the last straw”
- Kerr had to be restrained by players and staff
- Ejection was fifth of Kerr’s NBA coaching career
- Steph Curry fouled out for the first time since 2021
- Warriors lost 103-102 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood
- Snoop Dogg, commentating live, joked about Kerr’s Arizona roots
Warriors’ Steve Kerr Ejected After Heated Exchange in Q4 vs Clippers
Deep Look
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ejected from Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after an explosive reaction to a missed goaltending call, adding drama to an already intense showdown that ended in a narrow 103-102 loss for Golden State.
The incident unfolded with just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, as tensions escalated following a play involving Clippers forward John Collins. Kerr was visibly enraged when officials did not call goaltending on what he believed was a clear interference at the rim. He stormed across midcourt, shouting at the referees as assistant coach Terry Stotts and players Gary Payton II and Gio Santos attempted to hold him back.
Kerr was issued back-to-back technical fouls in quick succession, leading to his automatic ejection. The 60-year-old coach walked off the court to loud boos from the Intuit Dome crowd in Inglewood, California. It marked the fifth ejection of his NBA coaching career.
“There were probably a few things building up, but that missed goaltending call was the last straw,” said Stotts, who stepped in to address the media postgame in Kerr’s place. “I didn’t see the replay, but it sure looked like a goaltend at the time.”
The ejection came at a pivotal moment in a tightly contested game. The Warriors were within striking distance, and the emotional spark seemed to jolt both benches. Steph Curry, Golden State’s superstar guard, fouled out late in the game — his first disqualification since 2021 — compounding the Warriors’ frustration in a one-point defeat.
Adding to the spectacle was rapper and cultural icon Snoop Dogg, who provided color commentary for the streaming platform Peacock. Snoop’s reaction to Kerr’s outburst went viral instantly, as he animatedly described the coach’s fiery approach.
“The Arizona Wildcat came out — look at it,” Snoop said during the live stream, referencing Kerr’s college days at the University of Arizona in the 1980s. He followed the remark with playful snarling sounds, adding levity to an otherwise tense moment.
Despite the drama, the game itself was closely fought from start to finish. Golden State had multiple opportunities to take control in the final minutes but faltered without Curry on the floor and Kerr on the sideline. The controversial officiating moment only intensified the Warriors’ sense of missed opportunity.
For Kerr, a coach known for his composure and championship pedigree, the eruption was a rare loss of temper — but perhaps a sign of the urgency the team feels amid a competitive Western Conference. The Warriors have had an up-and-down season and are fighting to maintain position in the playoff race. Emotional flashpoints like this one can either galvanize a team or further disrupt rhythm, depending on how the locker room responds.
Stotts acknowledged the intensity of the moment but praised the team’s effort. “We kept pushing, we stayed in it, but sometimes the game doesn’t go your way — and tonight, it didn’t.”
With the ejection behind them, the Warriors will need to regroup quickly. Kerr’s passion underscores the pressure of the stretch run, and the narrow loss against a conference rival only raises the stakes for their upcoming games.
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