OAKLAND — Steve Kerr is not ready to return to the bench as Warriors coach due to lingering health issues, general manager Bob Myers said Thursday, but Myers did not completely close the door on the notion that Kerr would be unable to do so by the time the NBA Finals start on June 1.
“At this point, he’s not able to coach,” Myers said. “I wish I 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’ll sit here — and tell you. But right now, I can’t say that he’s going to be coaching.”
Myers said that if Kerr starts to feel better, the Warriors would make a decision on his status, but added, “Right now, we’re not putting on any deadlines should he feel better what we would do. It’ll be based on how he feels, how long he’s felt well.”
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Kerr has not coached on the bench since Game 2 of the opening-round playoff series against Portland on April 19. He missed all of the Warriors’ series against the Utah Jazz in the second round, while he tried to seek solutions to an ongoing complications of a spinal leak from two back surgeries.
Kerr underwent a procedure at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, and upon his return, ratcheted up his activity during the Warriors’ sweep of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. He attended practice and coaches meetings, gave halftime talks during games and traveled with the team to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 this past week. He also took part in practice Thursday, but did not speak to the media.
Mike Brown has served capably as the acting head coach in Kerr’s absence from the bench, leading the Warriors 10-0 record, but Kerr has been more heavily involved of late. Myers said that shouldn’t be misconstrued that Kerr is almost well. Being around the team, however, may be serving as some measure of emotional therapy as he fights the physical battle.
“People have said, `Steve, should you step away? You might feel better,’ ” Myers said. “This is his sanctuary. Even though he is suffering, being at home or being removed is actually harder, if you can understand that, because this is his joy. Even though it’s a muted joy right now, this is the best thing he can feel. This is his fulfillment. This is where he gets his courage as opposed to stepping away and watch it all transpire without him. Even though he’s suffering right now, at least he’s with all of us.”
While that may be somewhat satisfying, Myers wishes it could be more than that.
“How he’s feeling is what makes it very difficult to sit here and say that the man who is hugely responsible for us being in the Finals three years in a row — a moment he should be treasuring — can’t do it,” the G.M. said. “I know it’s painful for him more than anybody. I wish, and he wishes, too, that there was something that could get him there. But right now, we’re not at that point.”
Myers said that he has discussed with Kerr how many days he would have to feel well to return to the bench, but understands the Warriors are running out of time to make a determination.
“It’s a shorter runway now,” Myers said. “But what he’s going through, I don’t think anyone can quite understand what he’s going through. If it was easily understood, it would be easily resolved. So if he woke up one day and felt much, much better at this point, I don’t think we’d wait a week. Let’s cross that unbelievably good bridge if it comes. I don’t know if it’s coming. I know I want it to come.”
Myers said he is unsure whether the procedure Kerr underwent in North Carolina improved his physical condition.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Sometimes procedures like that can take some time to reveal themselves and improve the symptoms. Sometimes it’s immediate. Sometimes these things improve over a month or two months or quicker. I can’t say for sure right now.”
Myers said he would not rule out any option, even though Kerr has said he would not return to the bench if he thought there was any chance he would subsequently have to retreat again due to his health. He added that Kerr could even potentially return to the bench during the Finals, even if he didn’t start the series there.
“I think anything’s an option,” he said. “This is unusual, and I want to know the answer, too. But some of this is nuance. It’s not clear and concise. Even though Mike has won all of these games, there is no right or wrong way to handle this short of looking in his eyes and asking, `How are you feeling? How do you feel about doing it?’ I hope we get that chance. That means he’s feeling better.
“To be honest, if he’s feeling better, I’d be so happy about that. I know the Finals are a big deal. I get it. It’s what we do. But I’d be thrilled if he just said he’s feeling better. Then we could deal with the basketball stuff.”
While returning to his full duties would be the optimum scenario, Myers did say he believes Kerr will have significant impact on the Finals, even if he’s unable to be on the bench.
“I know even though he’s not out there on the bench, you can’t measure the impact of everything else.” Myers said. “Some people in life, you know when they’re in the room and when they’re not. Some people in life, you don’t even know if they’re there or not. You know when Steve Kerr walks in the room. He has that. He’s got that, magnetic in that way. I don’t know how to weight the impact, but I know it’s there. And I know if he wasn’t here, we would feel it and would be worse for it, to be honest.”
