The Golden State Warriors have once again torn through the Western Conference this postseason, sweeping their opposition in the first three rounds en route to their third straight NBA Finals. Currently 12-0 and awaiting the winner of the Conference Finals out East, the Warriors have been on this most recent tear without head coach Steve Kerr on the sidelines.
Kerr has been away from the team due to his recurring and serious back issue, an ailment that has been hindering him for years. With the NBA Finals now looming, Kerr is still unsure about whether he will make a return to the Golden State sideline this season according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
“Just day by day,” Kerr told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears, when asked about his status after the Warriors completed a sweep of the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night in the Western Conference finals.
Kerr was able to travel with the team for the first time since taking an indefinite leave of absence on April 23. However, sources told ESPN that he’s still in a significant amount of pain and discomfort and that his return to traveling with the team should not be read as an indication of progress.
There’s no doubt the Warriors and their fans would love to have Steve Kerr back in the fold but the team has already made it clear that the head coach’s long-term health is their main concern as it should be.
Interim head coach Mike Brown has done a stellar job meshing the talent on this Golden State roster as stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant seem to have kicked it into high gear at just the right time. With the NBA Finals slated to begin on June 1st, Kerr should have ample time to make a final decision regarding his availability.
