Speaking to Bill Simmons about the championship hangover the Golden State Warriors were experiencing during the 2017/18 season, head coach Steve Kerr mused, “There’s a malaise that’s settled in. We just don’t have that same edge we’ve had the last couple of years. And I’m perfectly fine with that because it’s human nature [for motivation to wane after a championship] and we’ve got to pace ourselves and get to the end of the year.”

Kerr’s response was one of those record-scratch moments.

In the age of scripted interview answers, his authenticity was shocking.

He was perfectly fine with a malaise?

He was accepting of waning motivation?

Kerr’s answers go against everything we’ve been told to believe about team motivation and human performance. Yet, it also speaks volumes about his sharp understanding of team dynamics, and his acceptance of the new-age role of a coach.