
The Golden State Warriors might start the 2015–16 regular season with championship-winning coach Steve Kerr on the sidelines due to his condition following two back surgeries he had in the offseason.
Kerr, in his first year as a head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA) last season, led the Warriors to the title to end a 40-year championship drought.
But the 50-year-old coach might not be with the Warriors when they begin their title defense this Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
In a report by ESPN, interim head coach Luke Walton said Kerr still does not know when he will be coming back to coach Golden State and will not "force a return."
Walton added that there is no timetable for Kerr, but him being with the team lately is great and is good for the players.
Spending time with the Warriors in the past few days, Kerr gave messages to the players, according to Walton, who was also praised by the head coach for doing a great job while taking over the post.
In ESPN's report, Walton said the Warriors are aiming to have Kerr coach this Tuesday when they play the Pelicans; but if it cannot be done, he already feels comfortable stepping up.
The Warriors will be bringing the same core of players they had in their championship-winning year last season.
Golden State will still rely on the Splash brothers reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson; defensive specialist forward Draymond Green; off the bench spark veteran Andre Iguodala; and big men Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, and Marreese Speights.
The Warriors did not really make any major roster move in the offseason besides trading former All-Star big man David Lee to the Boston Celtics in exchange of veteran forward Gerald Wallace and guard Chris Babb.
Wallace was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers who waived him last month and is now available in the market.