When the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors open the 2015-16 season next Tuesday, they could very well be without their head coach Steve Kerr. At the very least, the Warriors are preparing for such an event.
Kerr has been dealing with painful health complications gleaned from a pair of recent back surgeries. Assistant Luke Walton, who’s still a youngin’ in the coaching world, has been Golden State’s interim head coach through the preseason.
Doc Rivers said he spoke to Steve Kerr: "What he's going through is not easy. It's more than just the back."
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) October 22, 2015
More Doc Rivers on Steve Kerr: "He hoped he could be back and he wants to be back, but it could take some time."
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) October 22, 2015
As of Wednesday, Walton was preparing to be the Warriors’ head coach for next week’s opener against New Orleans.
“Hopefully Stevie’s back before then, but you can’t wait until the game time to start preparing,” told Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group. “We as a staff especially this last week will really start prepping as if this is the staff we have going into Game 1. That way at least if that is the case, we’ll be ready for it.”
Though technically absent, Kerr and Walton have stayed in constant contact and there appears to be no lack of confidence in Walton should he need to coach the opener – or any additional games thereafter.
“He’s not ready to coach yet, which is kind of I think going to be the answer until one day he is ready,” Walton said. “Like I don’t think it’s going to be a gradual thing.”
Despite the Warriors’ 2-3 preseason record, which doesn’t include the game against the Lakers on Saturday that was canceled as Golden State trailed 85-70, Walton said Kerr told him to keep doing what he’s doing.
“The practices are good,” Walton said of what Kerr has told him. “The guys are competing. They’ll take care of it.
“He’s very confident in the fact that our players will help make the job that our staff has to do a lot easier. And as a staff, we’re probably a little more worried than Steve and the players are, but we’re new.”
It’s probably true the Warriors are a team packaged up and ready to go. It’s a long season and Kerr’s health is a top priority. Still, it’ll be a welcome sight when he’s able to return to the court again.
(Via Bay Area New Group)
