NBA coach Steve Kerr on his Cairo homecoming, and his love for Mohamed Salah

CAIRO, Egypt — Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has made a long-awaited return to Cairo, the place he spent three years in his teenagers, to teach campers on the NBA and FIBA’s Africa Basketball with out Borders programme.

Kerr, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, hung out in Egypt as a toddler due to his father’s educational profession in Center Jap research, and had not been again to Cairo since 1985 till this previous weekend.

Kerr made it a household affair, he instructed ESPN at a media occasion on Sunday: “I needed to come back to Cairo [for BWB], I have never been again right here since 1985.

“I introduced my household — I introduced my spouse, my daughter, her husband — it is nice to be visiting Egypt once more and doing so whereas teaching and being part of BWB made it an ideal journey.”

Kerr, 56, attended Cairo American School (CAC) for 3 years in his teenagers whereas his late father was a visiting professor on the American College of Cairo. His father, Malcolm Hooper Kerr, was killed in a terror attack in Beirut in 1984.

Though Kerr’s primary connection to the Center East is gone, he has not forgotten his roots and even took time to go to his old fashioned.

He stated: “I had an opportunity to go to the [CAC] campus a few days in the past and go speak to the varsity groups, girls and boys groups, go to a number of the coaches and the lecturers, so it was an excellent expertise.”

Kerr can be famously a soccer fan and helps Liverpool, a connection which additionally pertains to his time in Egypt: Pharaohs star Mohamed Salah.

However whereas Kerr loves Salah’s work on the sector, he is additionally an enormous fan of his humanitarian work off it: “I began following the Premier League possibly 5 or 6 years in the past and I had seen Mohamed Salah play and examine him.

“I used to be simply so impressed by his character and what he had achieved in his hometown, serving to to construct a college.

“I knew how beloved he was in Egypt, so I stated: ‘That is my man!’ I needed to cheer for Mohamed Salah and after I discovered he performed for Liverpool, I stated: ‘Okay, that is my workforce!’ So, I have been a Liverpool fan ever since.”

With a basketball legend! pic.twitter.com/NVMLOvtvCf

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) August 28, 2022

Kerr, who received 5 NBA championships as a participant (three with the Chicago Bulls and two with the San Antonio Spurs), is used to being admired, however even he was starstruck when he met Liverpool supervisor Jürgen Klopp.

“I’ve gotten to fulfill a number of the coaches. I met with Jürgen Klopp the opposite day in Liverpool, which was an excellent thrill. Watching the sport, it’s extremely related by way of ideas,” he stated.

“Regardless that there’s 11 gamers in soccer and solely 5 in basketball, it is nonetheless very a lot a sport about three individuals — whoever has the ball and whoever is closest to that participant — and having the ability to go and transfer in small triangles throughout the court docket or the pitch; making an attempt to beat your man and beat the defender with slicing and spacing, it is all very related.

“I am nonetheless making an attempt to be taught extra about soccer — I am not an skilled — however I take pleasure in watching it and I really feel like I am at all times studying one thing.”

Regardless of downplaying his data of the game, Kerr didn’t hesitate when requested who he anticipated to win the UEFA Champions League this season.

“Liverpool,” he stated with a smile.

Kerr is one in every of 5 NBA head coaches at BWB Africa this 12 months, with Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers), Wes Unseld Jr. (Washington Wizards), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Willie Inexperienced (New Orleans Pelicans) additionally in attendance.

Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz), Mo Bamba (Orlando Magic) and Boston Celtics duo Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams are the present NBA gamers current in Cairo as they search to assist 64 of essentially the most proficient girls and boys aged 18 and below from 25 African nations observe of their footsteps.

The camp administrators embrace Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Los Angeles Clippers scout Lance Blanks, Cleveland Cavaliers Common Supervisor Mike Gansey and World Affiliation of Basketball Coaches President Patrick Hunt.