Steve Kerr has not coached the Warriors since the beginning of the first round due to back pain, but it appears the Warriors coach is on the road to recovery. After attending Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena, Kerr will travel with the team to San Antonio for the next two games, general manager Bob Myers told 95.7 The Game on Wednesday.
Here’s what Myers said about Kerr’s updated condition:
“I think he’s better than he was, which is good. But he was not in a great spot, so it’s all relative so to speak. Look, you know what, in some respects, when you want to know how he’s doing, you see it. This isn’t clear cut. You listen to him, they show video of him speaking during the halftime of the game.
“He’s around; that’s better. He wasn’t around; that was worse. So what does that mean? I don’t know. I don’t think anybody knows. We were dealing with him not being around, and the more he’s around, the better. Obviously if he’s coaching, that’s the best case. If you see him coaching, he’s gonna be doing better. Right now he can’t do it. He’s doing what he can, which is the things you guys see.”
Kerr has been dealing with complications from a back procedure he received almost two years ago. Previously, he’s said he used marijuana to help treat his chronic back pain. The Warriors have not skipped a beat in his absence. Under interim coach Mike Brown, the team is still undefeated in the playoffs and leads the Spurs 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals. (Granted, injuries to Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard have decimated the Spurs roster.)
Prior to Game 1 between the Warriors and the Spurs, Golden State guard Stephen Curry said just having Kerr around, even when he’s not coaching, is a big boost. From ESPN:
“It’s obviously great anytime you get to hear his voice, see his face,” Stephen Curry said after practice. “He’s obviously been doing his homework in between. His downtime is to help us get prepared for the series, and you know he misses being around the day-to-day routine, the atmosphere, practice and locker rooms and games and all that. So for him to even just have the energy and ability to be here means a lot. Hopefully, he’s feeling better.”
While Kerr still is not coaching and may not return to the sidelines for the rest of the 2017 postseason, it’s great news that his health is improving.