Photo by Edgar Chaparro
Bob Myers, general manager of the Golden State Warriors and the architect of the championship dynasty, is stepping down from his role. Myers announced at a press conference this Tuesday that he won’t be renewing his contract when it expires in late June. The decision wasn’t influenced by financial incentive or any alternative offers, despite rumors that several teams have approached Myers over the last few months. In Myers’ words: “It’s just time.” “It’s not goodbye,” Myers said. “This is just my stop. The train is powerful. This thing is moving. It’s just, I’ve got to get off.”
Myers grabbed the GM role for the team in 2012 and under his powerful leadership, the Warriors have skyrocketed to new heights in the NBA. Beginning with hiring coach Steve Kerr, Myers took control of the team’s future. He went on to hire Draymond Green and signed Kevin Durant in from a free agency. He took on a far more involved role in the team than required from any manager, spearheading the rebuild of the Warriors team after Kevin Durant’s subsequent departure in 2019 – the restructure that would eventually lead to the Warriors’ fourth title since Myers first joined as assistant GM in 2011. All his hard work ultimately earned him a reputation as one of the NBA’s best executives. The team’s followers are anxious to know that the franchise will be in good hands, and those fans who enjoy sports betting will want to know whether the Warriors should still be in their NBA picks for next season.
But it was this dedicated work ethic that began to take a toll on Myers. In the statement he gave to the press, Myers stated that the job required “complete engagement, a complete effort, a thousand percent”, and he went on to say that as he was no longer able to go above and beyond for the team, it was time he stepped down.
Myers revealed that the thought of stepping down first occurred to him in 2019, after a grueling final series plagued by friction and injuries within the team.
As Warriors fans will be well aware, the loss of such an important executive comes at a perilous time for the franchise. With several contracted payouts due on the horizon and a disappointing post-season behind them, the franchise is moving into murky waters. Several of the core players – Green, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole – are looking for clarity as their contracts come up for renewal. But as of right now, there has been no announcement of a replacement for Myers to lead the team back to the surface.
Lacob, when he joined Myers in the press conference, emphasized that they’re going to let the decision take its “natural course”. They don’t want to rush finding the right candidate for the job.
Speculation is rife among players and fans who want to know what the future holds for the Golden State Warriors.
One option is Mike Dunleavy Jr. – hired in 2021 to take some weight off Myers’ shoulders when he questioned how he could keep up with the job. There have also been suggestions that Joe Lacob could have been preparing his son, Kirk Lacob, to take over the role.
But everyone who knows Myers will agree that his will be a tough act to follow. Myers doesn’t just bring managerial experience to the team – Myers is a leader, a friend and a supporter to all members of the franchise. He famously left with Green after he was suspended in the 2016 NBA Finals as a show of support, and Green has praised the way Myers has held him accountable throughout his career.
Myers also offers support to players with public relations, taking it upon himself to address the media after Green punched Poole – a controversial event that shook the team before the post-season began. He was involved in every aspect of the dynasty he has built, and whoever follows will have big shoes to fill.
With so many player contracts up in the air, and the drop in morale after the failure to get past the second round of the playoffs last year, this is a dangerous time for the Warriors. The franchise needs to make effective decisions and hire a strong leader to take the reins from Myers quick enough to get the dynasty back on course. Many other franchises will be vying for players like Thompson as his contract comes up for renewal, and the Warriors must provide him and all other essential members of the team with reassurance about what the future holds.
