NBA: Warriors coach Steve Kerr to travel with team to Texas

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, has been out indefinitely with complications from a 2015 back surgery. PHOTO: AFP

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, out indefinitely with complications from a 2015 back surgery, will travel with the team to San Antonio for their next two NBA playoff games, team officials said Wednesday.

Warriors general manager Bob Myers told The Game radio in San Francisco that the ailing coach would make the trip to Texas, a sign of progress that could herald his return to the bench should the Warriors reach the NBA Finals.

Kerr has experienced pain and dizziness among other issues and has been replaced by assistant coach Mike Brown in guiding the Warriors since their first two games of the playoffs.

Under Brown, the Warriors have won eight games in a row and at 10-0, Golden State enters Saturday's third game in the best-of-seven Western Conference final only one win shy of matching the best start in NBA playoff history.

The Warriors are also two wins shy of reaching a third consecutive NBA Finals. They won the 2015 crown and led 3-1 last year before the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to claim the crown.

Either Cleveland or Boston awaits the West champion in next month's NBA Finals. It was unclear where Kerr will be or his duties while in San Antonio, but he has become more active since his troubles began.

He missed two games in the opening round to undergo a spinal cord leak operation and in recent days has attended practices, team meetings and the two home wins by the Warriors over the Spurs in the conference finals.

Kerr sat in the locker room for the first two games against the Spurs and spoke with the team during halftime in both games. Until last Saturday, he has not been on the floor with the Warriors since April 21.

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