Recently, Steph Curry has floated the idea of one day stepping into coaching, and his old dreams of leading a high school team, now as a potential retirement role. It’s less about chasing NBA sidelines and more about shaping the game at its foundation, passing on lessons to the next generation the way his mentors once did. But that dream stands in stark contrast to how some of Curry’s peers see the job.
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young recently opened up about the reality of coaching in today’s NBA, and his words cast doubt on whether the position offers any real stability or influence.
When Trae was asked on Jeff Teague’s Club520 about coaching one day in their latest episode, his answer was blunt. “Coaching, no. Coaching, no. No, I’m cool,” Young said. “This coaching business, like Coach of the Years that get fired… coaches don’t have as much juice as you may think… I think there’s a lot more cons, to be honest with you.”
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The Atlanta star’s words carry weight when you look around the league. Nick Nurse guided the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title, winning Coach of the Year in 2020. By 2023, he was out of Toronto. Mike Budenholzer led the Bucks to a championship in 2021 and was fired just two years later. Monty Williams, Coach of the Year in 2022, was dismissed by Phoenix in 2023 and then again by Detroit after only one season. Tyronn Lue delivered Cleveland its first-ever title in 2016 and was gone two years later. Frank Vogel won it all with the Lakers in 2020 and was fired in 2022. The pattern is brutal: even winning big titles, awards, or both doesn’t guarantee stability.
That’s the cautionary tale Young was pointing to. Players often outlast coaches, and organizational power is higher in the front office. In Atlanta alone, Trae has seen three head coaches shuffled in and out in seven years despite playoff appearances. Why trade in the security of a playing career for a role where even success can get you shown the door?
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Curry sees it differently. For him, the appeal was never about NBA sidelines or boardroom power. “Seeing people learn a skill, or learn anything really, and that joy that comes with accomplishment, that always got me going,” he previously said, crediting his mother’s influence as an educator. It’s about connection, not contracts.
While NBA Benches Shuffle, Curry Looks to High School Courts
When Ayesha Curry revealed on Call Her Daddy that Steph once dreamed of being a high school coach, it added depth to the image fans have of him. Unlike the revolving door of NBA sidelines, high school coaching carries a different weight. There, coaches are remembered less for their win-loss record and more for the values and confidence they instill in their players. For Curry, who grew up with an educator as a mother, that vision feels natural: he’s long associated fulfillment with teaching and mentoring, not just winning titles.
Curry has already taken steps that mirror this outlook. His Curry Camp, now in its ninth year, has developed into one of the premier stops for high school prospects worldwide. This summer, the camp expanded to China as part of his ‘Curry Brand World Tour,’ allowing him to mentor players across continents. He also took on a role at Davidson College as an assistant general manager for the basketball programs, leading practices and sharing his insight with athletes who once sat where he did. In each case, the focus has been less on trophies and more on shaping people.
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The vision of “Coach Curry” on a high school sideline may sound modest compared to an NBA post, but that’s precisely the point. Away from the politics of front offices and the cutthroat nature of the professional coaching carousel, Curry could build an environment where his philosophy thrives. He could emphasize fundamentals, foster joy in the game, and guide during the years when young players need it most. For a man who has already changed the sport at its highest level, there’s an appealing symmetry to him returning to its grassroots to leave a different kind of legacy.