The Deep Bay Area Connection Between Steve Kerr and Macklin Celebrini
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has revealed a heartwarming connection with rising Canadian hockey superstar Macklin Celebrini that goes far beyond their shared Bay Area sports presence. The relationship between the NBA championship coach and the San Jose Sharks phenom has roots that stretch back years, creating a unique cross-sport bond in Northern California's professional athletic community.
A Family Connection That Runs Deep
The foundation of this special relationship lies in family ties. Macklin Celebrini's father, Rick Celebrini, has been a longtime member of the Golden State Warriors organization, currently serving as the team's Vice President of Player Health and Performance. This professional connection meant that Macklin spent considerable time around the Warriors facility during his formative years, often visiting as a teenager while his father worked with the NBA franchise.
During a recent press conference, Kerr expressed his enthusiasm for Celebrini's rapid ascent in professional hockey. "It's pretty exciting," Kerr stated regarding Celebrini's emergence and his inclusion on Team Canada for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. "I can't wait to watch him play in the Olympics, and Rick is heading over there with the family to see him, which is really exciting."
From Teenage Visitor to NHL MVP Candidate
Kerr has been closely following Celebrini's professional development, regularly checking San Jose Sharks box scores to track the young star's progress. "I follow it. I look at the box scores every day, and they're really having a great turnaround season," Kerr explained. "It's so fun to see Mack doing so well, especially in the context of it all. He was hanging around here as a kid who was about 14, and now, all of a sudden, he's in the MVP race in the NHL as a rookie... I guess second year."
Celebrini's statistical performance has been nothing short of remarkable during his sophomore NHL season. Before departing for the Winter Olympics in Italy, the star forward had accumulated 28 goals and 53 assists for 81 points in just 55 games. These numbers already surpass his rookie season totals of 25 goals and 38 assists across 70 games, demonstrating significant growth in his professional development.
Olympic Connections and Professional Respect
The 2026 Winter Olympics will provide a special intersection for these Bay Area sports figures. While Celebrini represents Canada on the ice, Kerr brings his own Olympic experience to the relationship, having served as head coach for the USA Men's Basketball team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he led the team to a gold medal. Kerr also earned gold at the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021 as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich.
Kerr's admiration for Celebrini extends beyond casual observation. "It's always fun seeing Rick and talking to him about the games," Kerr added. "Sometimes on the team flight, Rick will be watching the Sharks game on his phone. It's really been a lot of fun to see it vicariously through Rick. Proud dad."
A Rapid Ascent in Professional Hockey
Celebrini's development has been particularly impressive considering his relatively short time in the NHL. After finishing third in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year behind Montreal's Lane Hutson and Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf, Celebrini has quickly entered the MVP conversation in his second season. He currently ranks behind only Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon in betting odds for the award, with Edmonton's Connor McDavid sitting in third position.
These three Canadian stars will have the opportunity to play together for Team Canada at the Olympics, with their first game against Czechia scheduled for Thursday morning. The connection between Kerr and Celebrini represents a unique bridge between NBA and NHL cultures in the Bay Area, demonstrating how professional sports relationships can transcend individual leagues and create meaningful bonds across athletic disciplines.
