Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr AP
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, sidelined by complications from 2015 back surgery, reportedly is feeling better and could return for Sunday’s second game of the NBA Finals.
But Mike Brown, the assistant coach who has guided the Warriors to an 11-0 playoff mark in Kerr’s absence, still plans on guiding Golden State as he did in Thursday’s 113-91 game one victory over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
ESPN reported that if Kerr feels well enough in the next two days there was “optimism” he could return as coach for game two in the best-of-seven series Sunday in Oakland.
But for now, acting head coach Brown is planning on guiding the team for what could be their final home game of the campaign.
“He has the option to coach,” Brown said Friday. “I haven’t heard anything from him. I’m planning on coaching unless he or (Warriors general manager) Bob Myers tells me anything different.”
Since coaching the Warriors to their first two playoff triumphs this year, Kerr has been sidelined with nausea and migraine headaches due to complications from back surgery two years ago.
Brown has filled in perfectly and the Warriors have set an NBA record start to the playoffs at 13-0, also matching the longest win streak in NBA post-season history.
“I imagine I’m going to coach until Steve tells me he’s ready. That’s kind of how I look at it,” Brown said.
“He does seem like he’s getting better, but I’m going to keep coaching until he says he can or can’t.”
Warriors guard Klay Thompson said he had heard nothing about Kerr’s possible return, but added, “I hope he comes back.”
Kerr has spoken to the team in the locker room at times before games and at half-time while absent from the bench decisions during games. He continues to work with Brown and others on game plans as well.
“Coach Kerr has been great,” Thompson said. “He’s a fighter, so it’s great to see him out here. He tries to help as much as he can and he has been. He’s just a calming presence. He’s great at deciphering the game and what we need to do right and what we need to do better.
“We miss him out there. Hopefully he can come back. If not, we’ll play for him and still perform.”
Kerr was the 2015-16 NBA Coach of the Year for guiding the Warriors to the winningest season in NBA history at 73-9, but the achievement was bittersweet given Golden State fell victim to the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, squandering a 3-1 edge to see Cleveland win in seven games