Steve Kerr Declines Comment on Warriors’ FT Gap in Loss vs. Lakers: ‘My Mom is Here’

zach bacharContributor IJanuary 28, 2024

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Despite mentioning the free throw disparity between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, head coach Steve Kerr politely declined to share his opinion on it.

“I might comment on the free throws but my mom is here so I want to be on my best behavior,” Kerr said following the Warriors’ 145-144 defeat in double overtime, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “So I’m not going to comment on their 43 free throws to our 16. I’m not going to comment on Steph shooting three free throws in 43 minutes.”

The Lakers hit 88 percent of their 43 attempts, while the Warriors connected on 69 percent of their shots at the charity stripe.

With Golden State leading by one point and less than five seconds remaining in the second overtime period, LeBron James was fouled with one second left. James calmly drained two free throws to give the Lakers an advantage before a last-second heave by Curry ultimately fell short.

The two-time MVP was visibly frustrated after the defeat, ripping his jersey as he entered the locker room.

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBASteph ripped his jersey walking off the court after the 2OT loss to the Lakers.

(via @957thegame) pic.twitter.com/A3qYrdvWL6

In the nine games that Curry has taken less than four free throw attempts during the 2023-24 season, he has never recorded more than 37 minutes of action. On Saturday night, he was on the floor for 43 minutes.

The Lakers currently rank No. 7 in free throw attempts per game, while the Warriors hold the No. 14 ranking. The difference could also be a result of the shot diet between the two squads, as Golden State currently attempts the fewest shots per game in the restricted area among all NBA teams (via NBA.com). With less drives into the paint, Warriors players have likely been drawing less contact compared to opponents.

Golden State has now lost four of its last five games and fallen to 19-24 on the season as a whole, currently sitting three games behind the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament.