NBA Update: Steve Kerr Temporarily Out, Luke Walton In But For How Long?

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Savoring an NBA Championship wasn’t supposed to be like that…

It should have been a lot of fun, partying and celebration. For Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr though, it was mostly painful. Kerr never imagined celebrating a ring in this manner yet he did: his back was severely damaged during the 2015 NBA Finals and he required a major surgery on July 28, a passive rehabilitation and another surgery following a setback on September 4.

“To be honest, the last couple of months have stunk for me. I’m not kidding. I’ve had a rough go physically this summer. Two back surgeries, and it has not been fun. It wasn’t the summer I was envisioning after winning the title, thinking ‘This is the greatest thing ever,’” Warriors head coach said at the beginning of the training camp. Unfortunately for him, the autumn is about to stink some more.

After experiencing more back pains in the first two days of the training camp, Steve Kerr decided to take an indefinite leave of absence and concentrate solely on his recovery. Since Alvin Gentry left the Warriors to coach the New Orleans Pelicans, Luke Walton will take over and try to prepare the team for a championship repeat.

 

How Long Will Be Steve Kerr Out?

Unfortunately for the Warriors fans, nobody really knows. The team’s coaching staff could be back to normal by the end of the preseason or it could take a while longer. Fortunately though, there is no reason to panic whatsoever. Why?

First of all, this is just the preseason, a time for preparation not championship aspirations. Luke Walton and his staff should be able to take care of business and consolidate the final 15-man roster. But what happens if the season starts and Kerr is still not on the bench? Luckily for everyone in Oakland, this is not Kerr’s first year as a head coach. If it had been, there would have been problems. Walton, the coaching staff and most of the players know what it is required from them after a full successful championship season. Yes, Gentry isn’t in Oakland anymore to teach the run-and-gun game but there is no need to; the philosophy stays the same and every Warrior should know it by now: torch the arc, outrun the other team, play small ball when in need and defend. Sounds easy right?

Yes, the Warriors may start the season without their main man on the bench but Kerr will eventually return ready to lead the team to yet another NBA championship.

About Luke Walton

Son of Hall of Famer Bill Walton, Luke played his pro ball in Los Angeles (2003 – 2012) and Cleveland (2012 – 2013). He averaged 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists as an NBA player, throughout his career. During the 2011 lockout, he had his first experience as an assistant coach with the University of Memphis. After retirement, in 2013, the former Laker was hired by the D-League team, Los Angeles D-Fenders as a player development coach. In the summer of 20144, following Steve Kerr’s hiring in Oakland, Luke Walton joined his staff as an assistant and since then, he has continuously tried to implement parts of the famous triangle in the Warriors’ offense.

By: Florian Gheorghe