Kerr: 'I don't think it'll matter' if I coach or not
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remains sidelined due to a spinal-fluid leak, the continuing fallout from complications of a back surgery he underwent nearly two years ago.
Warriors assistant Mike Brown has taken over for Kerr on the bench, and the team hasn't missed a beat, going 12-0 through the Western Conference playoffs to reach its third straight NBA Finals.
As the Warriors prepare for their rubber match against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kerr is staying involved with the team - watching film and communicating with the coaching staff - but he isn't sure if or when he'll be ready to resume his post. Still, given the strong culture, successful system, and immense talent in place, Kerr also doesn't feel his presence or absence on the bench will swing the Finals one way or another.
"There's a lot for me to assess in terms of … whether I should jump out there," Kerr told Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News on Wednesday.
"We're doing fine without me. Honestly I don't think it'll matter too much to the team. I think the team will be fine no matter what we do. Because we're going to do the same stuff. I'm there. I've been messaging and watching film and breaking down everything. And I'll do that before and after the game whether I'm coaching or not."
This isn't the first time the Warriors, in their current iteration, have played (and thrived) without their head coach stalking the sidelines. Kerr also sat out the first 43 games of last season while dealing with headaches and nausea due to a spinal-fluid leak. Luke Walton (then a Warriors assistant, now the Lakers head coach) took over, and led the team to a 39-4 start.
Kerr worries a bit about whether his potential return would create some sort of disruption, but ultimately says his body will decide whether or not he returns.
"I think just, it's the Finals, there's going to be a spotlight," Kerr said. "Is it a distraction? Is it another storyline? Do we need to deal with all that?
"I don't know. Ultimately I don't think I can worry about that. I've got to play it by ear - if I'm feeling good I should coach and if I'm not feeling up to it, then I shouldn't. And it's that simple."