Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr smiles during a news conference before an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Kerr is returning to the Warriors’ bench on Friday after a leave of absence dating to the first week of training camp in October as he recovered from complications following two back surgeries. AP Photo
OAKLAND, California— Steve Kerr returned to the Golden State Warriors’ bench on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) after a leave of absence dating to the first week of training camp in October as he recovered from complications following two back surgeries.
Kerr, as of posting, is coaching defending NBA champion Warriors against Indiana at Oracle Arena, where the team will try to win its 38th straight regular-season home game to tie the 1985-86 Celtics for third place on the all-time list.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time … I really missed the routine,” Kerr said. “It feels like the first game of the season, which it is for me. Fortunately our team’s in a pretty good groove and hopefully we can keep going. ”
The Warriors went 39-4 in Kerr’s absence. They are 19-0 at home this season and haven’t lost at Oracle since a 113-111 overtime defeat to Chicago last Jan. 27.
“It’s been rough. I’ve gotten a lot better. I feel really good, ready to roll. Can’t wait to be back out there,” Kerr said. “I’ve known for the last few months that I wasn’t ready. After this past week or 10 days or so I’ve felt, ‘OK, this is finally turning in the right direction, now’s the time.'”
The 50-year-old Kerr said in mid-December that he was optimistic he would be back in the coming weeks. Kerr had been dealing with headaches and other issues after the operations — the first procedure causing him to leak spinal fluid — that followed Golden State’s first championship in 40 years. He watched the Warriors’ record 24-0 start from behind the scenes.
READ: Warriors coach Kerr out indefinitely for back injury recovery
During a shoot-around in Cleveland on Monday before Golden State’s 132-98 blowout of the Cavaliers in an NBA Finals rematch, Kerr made an underhanded heave from half court that banked in. He raised his arms in triumph, kicked his right leg out and pumped his fist afterward. That video went out on social media, and had to alert many that he was close to healthy at last.
Kerr’s first surgery to repair a ruptured disc was in late July then he required a follow-up procedure in early September.
When he began the leave of absence Oct. 1, he initially had hoped to return by Jan. 1, but he did begin taking road trips in recent weeks to test his symptoms. He might still require a day off from time to time.
In his first season last year, Kerr guided Golden State to a franchise-record 67-win campaign and its first championship since 1975. Even during his absence, he addressed the team and offered input despite watching the games from an office in the arena or at home depending on how he felt. Being patient tested him, especially when he had to sit out the Oct. 27 opener against New Orleans after taking part in the pregame ceremony celebrating the championship season.
“He’s just trying to get his stamina and endurance and wherewithal back,” reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry said. “He’s looked good for a while. It’s nice to know he’s making that commitment to get back.”
Interim head coach Luke Walton, who led Curry and the champs in Kerr’s absence, will return to his spot as top assistant and is sure to attract attention as a head coaching candidate immediately when openings emerge.
READ: NBA: ‘Premature’ to consider if Walton could coach All-Stars
Kerr returns during a difficult stretch, with Golden State hosting the Spurs on Monday night, with San Antonio right behind the Warriors in the Western Conference.