Steve Kerr has experienced a completely different side of coaching at the NBA level after what most franchises view as a pipe dream.

Five years in and five runs to the NBA Finals later, the Golden State Warriors head coach reflected on the historic run, noting his players were clearly “wiped out” from playing such long, grueling consecutive seasons:

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“I made a comment after we lost to Toronto at the end of last year that we should just go on sabbatical for the year, go to Italy and sip wine,” said Kerr, according to CNN. “It did feel like our guys were just wiped out.

“I don't know that anybody can really fathom what it takes physically and emotionally to go to the Finals five straight years. It's exhausting. These guys put everything on the line for five straight years; just an incredible group, amazing competitive desire.”

The Warriors were playing around 100 games per season for five straight years, something that not only takes corporal fortitude, but also lots of mental strength and focus. Golden State also spent a large part of that run as the hunted, getting their opponents' best shot on a nightly basis and still managing to survive, at least for the most part.

A Game 6 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals was perhaps symbolic of the reset point they were bound to hit, considering that even well-oiled machines are meant to break down at some point.