Kerr clears protocols, back to being Warriors’ head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Steve Kerr on Sunday cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols and is back to serving his duties as the Warriors’ head coach.
Kerr hours ahead of the Warriors’ Game 4 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals tested positive for COVID-19. Assistant Mike Brown, on the same day he was named the Kings’ next head coach, took over as acting head coach. Kerr missed three straight games, with the Warriors going 2-1 in that span and advancing to the Western Conference finals.
They’ll face the winner of Sunday night’s Game 7 between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. And, Golden State will have its head coach back.
Luckily for Kerr, he said his symptoms while dealing with the virus weren’t bad at all.
Kerr felt a cough and congested, but knew while driving to Chase Center for Game 4 that he should get tested.
“It was just kind of my turn,” Kerr said. “It seems like the last couple of years, practically everybody on our coaching staff and our team has had it at some point. It was just my turn, but luckily it wasn’t too bad.”
This also isn’t the first time Kerr and Brown have been in this situation with the Warriors in the NBA playoffs. As Kerr dealt with a lingering back issue, Brown took over for him in the 2016-17 playoffs. The Warriors went 11-0 under Brown.
They’re now 13-1, and Kerr couldn’t be more grateful for the job that Brown and the rest of his staff did in his absence.
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“Mike was fantastic,” Kerr said. “The whole staff was great. For Mike in particular, what a difficult spot to be put into.”
Warriors players who played high minutes in Friday night’s Game 6 win over the Grizzlies had a light day of practice in San Francisco on Sunday, while those who played light minutes scrimmaged against each other before all parties turn their attention to who their next opponent will be.
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