Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, especially when it comes to matters of fairness and integrity in basketball. This time, his frustration is aimed at a particular defensive practice in the NBA—one that he calls “the dumbest thing he’s ever heard.” Kerr was referring to the league’s tolerance of defenders slapping a shooter’s hands and arms after the ball has left their hands. While technically not considered a foul under current officiating guidelines, Kerr argues that this leniency defies common sense and undermines the spirit of the game.
The issue came to a head during a postgame press conference in which Kerr was asked about the growing trend of defenders swiping at shooters’ arms just after the release. In his usual candid fashion, he didn’t mince words: “I don’t understand how it’s not a foul. You’re hitting the shooter’s arms, their hands—it affects their follow-through. That’s part of the shot. The idea that it’s legal is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Kerr’s stance is rooted in both logic and personal experience. A former NBA player himself, Kerr knows how much the follow-through can affect the accuracy of a shot. The shooting motion doesn’t end when the ball leaves the fingertips. Any coach or player will tell you that balance, rhythm, and muscle memory are all essential to a clean shot. Slapping a player’s arms just after the release can easily throw all of that off—even if the contact happens a split second after the ball is airborne.
Critics of the current interpretation of the rule argue that it creates an unfair advantage for defenders. While offensive players must avoid even the slightest push-off or flail to draw fouls, defenders are allowed to make significant contact under the guise of “incidental” or “post-release” actions. Kerr believes this inconsistency sends the wrong message, particularly to younger players learning the game. “What are we teaching kids?” he asked rhetorically. “That timing your slap right after the shot is smart defense? Come on.”
Supporters of the rule counter that enforcing fouls on post-release contact would slow the game down and create an unmanageable number of foul calls. But Kerr and others argue that this is a weak justification. Basketball, like all sports, evolves. Just as the league adapted to protect shooters on closeouts and jumping space, it can—and should—do the same for follow-through contact.
Kerr’s comments have sparked renewed debate among analysts, players, and fans alike. Whether or not the league takes action, his words have drawn attention to what many see as a gray area in the NBA’s rulebook. One thing is clear: Steve Kerr is not afraid to challenge the status quo when it comes to protecting the integrity of the game.
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