Ailing Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Takes Leave From Team
OAKLAND (CBS SF) – Steve Kerr, the rookie head coach who guided the Golden State Warriors to the NBA title, is taking a leave of absence from the team to recover from back surgery, the team announced Thursday.
Kerr underwent surgery to repair a ruptured disc in late July but needed a follow up procedure last month.
The second-year head coach said he suffered a great deal of pain and discomfort during the team's first two days of training camp.
"I realized I need to take a step back and focus on my rehabilitation in order to be ready for the grind of another NBA season," said Kerr in a statement on the team's website. "As I noted last week, my summer was difficult and no fun due to the multiple back surgeries."
How long Kerr will be away from the team is unknown.
"We don't anticipate the recovery process will be long term, but as of today we don't know the exact timeframe," said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers on the team's website. "We'll evaluate his progress daily and provide updates as necessary."
Luke Walton, the team's lead assistant coach, will serve as interim head coach in Kerr's absence.
