CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is calling for NBA officials to more frequently enforce traveling violations. Kerr voiced his opinions following a 119-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, during which he was issued a technical foul in the third quarter. His frustration stemmed from what he deemed to be a blatant traveling violation that went uncalled. In an expressive moment, Kerr gestured toward the crowd, mimicking the fans who were also clamoring for a traveling call.
Kerr’s concerns revolve around a lack of consistency in officiating when it comes to traveling. “I don’t understand why we are not teaching our officials to call travel in this league,” he said. Although he commended the officials for their hard work and effective communication, he noted, “I see five or six travels a game that aren’t called.”
The issue, according to Kerr, isn’t unique to other teams; the Warriors are just as guilty. Reflecting on a recent defeat to Philadelphia, Kerr observed four instances of traveling by his players that escaped the referees’ notice. “You know it’s a problem when there are like hundred fans in the stands and every coach on the sideline when I’m watching film and everyone is signaling for a travel call,” Kerr remarked. He believes that if everyone can see these infractions, it highlights a need for a stronger emphasis on teaching officials to closely monitor players’ footwork.
Kerr’s dissatisfaction with the inconsistency in calling travels is not a newfound stance. As a former NBA guard, he has raised this issue before, advocating for a shift in officiating practices for the benefit of the game. In his view, “The entire game is based on footwork,” and a tighter enforcement on traveling would enhance the quality of play. He reiterated his respect for the officials, acknowledging the complexity of their role, yet emphasized that “footwork is the entire basis of the game, and we need to call traveling. It will be a much better game if we clean it up.”
