Kerr’s comeback remains in doubt
OAKLAND, California — Ailing Golden State head coach Steve Kerr is involved in just about everything for the Warriors but the actual game-day coaching — film session, coaches meetings, game planning and practice.
The 51-year-old is just not yet ready from a health standpoint to be back on the bench with the start of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers a week away.
General manager Bob Myers made the announcement on Thursday, although he didn’t rule out Kerr returning at some point if he somehow is healthy enough to do so.
“If he feels better and we have to make those decisions, we will, but right now we’re not putting any deadlines on should he feel better what will we do,” Myers said.
“It’ll be based on what day it is, how exactly he feels, how long he’s felt well. I should be saying this with more emotion because it’s hard for me.
“I’m kind of in this basketball mode but he’s a person and he’s not feeling well and that’s what makes it hard. More than how it affects our team is how he’s feeling that makes it very difficult to sit here and say that the man that’s hugely responsible for us being in the Finals for three years in a row, in a moment that he should be treasuring, can’t do it.
“It’s painful, for him more than anybody.”
Kerr was there as his team returned to practice following a two-day break after completing a four-game sweep of the San Antonio Spurs on Monday to improve to 12-0 this postseason.
Myers noted that “just having him in the building and around is very powerful”.
Kerr underwent a procedure on May 5 to repair a spinal-fluid leak stemming from complications from two back surgeries in 2015, after the Warriors won their first championship in 40 years during his first season as coach.
While people have asked Kerr whether he should step away, Myers knows that’s not the immediate answer.