Storied Warriors general manager / president of basketball operations Bob Myers confirmed on Tuesday he will be stepping down from his role after 11 seasons at Golden State.
Myers was recognized as NBA Executive of the Year two times and was the architect of four NBA championships.
It is the end of an era and is the first domino that has fallen in what will be a franchise-altering offseason for the Dubs.
The Warriors are without a doubt one of the most successful franchises in the NBA’s modern history and when asked why he is leaving, Myers explained that the time commitment is too much.
“The bottom-line is this job, the one I’m in, and I would say this for any professional general manager or coach, requires complete engagement, complete effort, 1,000 percent,” Myers said. “If you can’t do it then you shouldn’t do it, so that’s the answer to the question of why. I can’t do that to our players, I can’t do that to Joe, Peter. I can’t do that to myself.
“I’ve only known how to do things one way my whole life, is kind of all the way. It doesn’t feel right to do something when I can’t give it everything, and that’s what it takes to do what we’ve done over the last, for me, 12 years.
“Part of me wishes I could have been a fan during it all. I might have enjoyed it more. I hate saying it, but I might have.”
Some have speculated that Myers will join a rival team but he played it cool in the presser. He didn’t seem to know what was next for him.
“My wife said we’re gonna get a drink on our way home…, Myers joked. “I’m in a narrow lane because I love basketball so much… I don’t know what’s coming.”
Myers has built very close relationships with the team, especially with veterans in Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
On top of Myers leaving, the franchise will have big luxury tax issues if they don’t move some of their players, thanks to the salary restrictions in the new CBA but Warriors governor Joe Lacob says this will be a non-issue.
“I’m not gong to comment of the roster very much because we have a lot of work to do, obviously,” Lacob said. “And we have time…We’re going to win no matter what. I don’t care what the rules are. We’re going to figure out a way to do it.”
There might some very difficult trade conversations had over the summer which will be made all the more difficult if Myers isn’t the one delivering the news.
Read more: Steve Kerr Addresses the Future of Warriors Core
