Kerr feeling better, but not yet ready to return to Warriors' sideline

The Golden State Warriors kicked off the defense of their NBA title Tuesday night without the man who helped them win it on the bench.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, still recovering from complications due to back surgery, was in attendance at Oracle Arena as the team received its rings and unfurled its first championship banner in 40 years. Once the game began, though, it was assistant coach Luke Walton calling the shots from the sideline.

Kerr addressed the media before the Warriors took the floor against the New Orleans Pelicans, and said that while he's feeling better since announcing his leave of absence on Oct. 1, he's still not quite ready to start coaching again.

"It's killing me," he said. "It's killing me not to be out there."

Kerr initially underwent surgery for a herniated disc in late July, but after he subsequently suffered headaches and other related symptoms, doctors discovered that he'd been leaking spinal fluid as a result of an imprecision during the surgery. He had a follow-up surgery to correct the problem in early September, but some in the Warriors organization believe he could still be out a while.

The 50-year-old added that he plans to travel with the team to Houston and New Orleans this week, and that he's sure he'll be coaching at some point this season.