Myers: ‘It's Painful' That Kerr Not Able to Treasure Being in NBA Finals

OAKLAND -- Warriors coach Steve Kerr is no closer to resuming full-time duties than he was a week ago, or even a month ago.

Out since April 23, when he announced he was taking a leave of absence to address chronic pain in the wake of multiple back surgeries nearly two years ago, Kerr has been a constant presence the past two weeks but not on the bench during games.

"He's doing everything but coaching, but at this point, he's not able to coach," general manager Bob Myers said Thursday after practice. "I wish could say that he was. I'm sure he wishes he could as well. But that's where we are.

"If something changes and he feels better, I'll sit here or, better -- he would sit here -- and tell you. But right now, I can't say that he's going to be coaching."

Though Kerr did not address media Thursday, he indicated earlier this week that he would be comfortable going into the NBA Finals, which begin June 1, with acting head coach Mike Brown at the helm.

"We're 12-0," Kerr told NBCSportsBayArea.com. "I feel great about where the team is. I know we can play better. I think the challenge we're about to face, one way or the other, is going to take us to another level."

The Warriors under Kerr finished the regular season with a league-best 67-15 mark, earning the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs. Kerr coached Games 1 and 2 of the first round against Portland before surrendering head coaching duties to Brown.

The Warriors are 10-0 since Brown took over, 27-1 over their last 28 games since March 11.

Still, they would like Kerr to regain health and join them in their quest for a second championship in three years.

"It's hard for me; I'm kind of in this basketball mode," Myers said. "But he's a person and he's not feeling well. And that's what makes it hard. More than how it reflects on our team is how he's feeling that makes it very difficult to have 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. And I know it's painful for him, more than anybody. And I wish and he wishes and I'm sure you guys do, too, that there was something that could get him there. But right now, we're not at that point."

Copyright CSNBY - CSN BAY
Contact Us