OAKLAND, Calif. β Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr will take a leave of absence as he recovers from back surgery and will be replaced on an interim basis by Luke Walton.
It's Wildcat-for-Wildcat trade: Kerr was a sharpshooting guard on the Wildcats' 1988 Final Four team; Walton was a do-it-all forward on the UA's 2001 Final Four club.
The Warriors announced Thursday that Kerr will need time off for rehabilitation and recovery. Kerr underwent back surgery to repair a ruptured disc in late July and had follow-up surgery in September. The length of his absence is unknown at this time.
Kerr said that after two days of training camp he realized he needed to take a step back and focus on his rehabilitation so he can make it through the grind of an NBA season.
The Warriors won their first NBA title in 40 years in Kerr's first year as coach last season.
