Steve Kerr is nearing a return to the Golden State Warriors’ sidelines—insofar as “sometime this season” is considered an acceptable and imminent timetable for his return.
Golden State has been without its coach all season as he recovers from complications that arose after having back surgery. His absence, by all appearances, hasn’t affected the team in the slightest. The Warriors are 24-1 and look poised to exceed the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record 72 victories.
But Kerr is a pivotal part of the Warriors’ success, even as Luke Walton continues guiding them during games. He took a good roster and installed a system, a culture, that made it great. The Warriors will always be better off when he’s around in full capacity, if for no other reason than because stability, while immeasurable, is inherently important.
Fortunately for them, though Kerr isn’t quite sure when he’ll be ready to rock, he doesn’t expect to miss the entire 2015-16 season.
Per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News:
Just had a good phone conversation with Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who was returning home from practice at team HQ–his second straight practice–and sounded very lively and immediately said it was just good to be back around the team again after the Warriors’ long, long road trip.
There’s still no timetable for his return, but Kerr agreed that he’s feeling better and is trying to adapt and adjust to his continued symptoms… and prepare for “the grind” of coaching through an NBA season.
I asked Kerr specifically if he ever thought about possibly skipping this entire season due to complications after multiple back surgeries; he said no, he definitely is thinking that he’ll be back at some point this season.
This is good news, both on a basketball and personal level.
Well, maybe not on all basketball levels.
Think about it. At some point, the Warriors are going to be fully healthy, free from the injuries that have dogged Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut, with Kerr, last year’s runner-up for Coach of the Year, back in the fold.
Their opponents are going to be pissed.
