Steve Kerr to temporarily step away from the Golden State Warriors

It's been announced today that Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will take a leave of absence from coaching duties due to back surgery. There is no known return date.

Kerr cracked a disk in his back during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but finished out the rest of the series. He underwent surgery July 28 and had follow up surgery on Sept. 4.

Despite the injury, the Warriors look to be in good hands with newly promoted associate head coach and fellow Arizona Wildcat Luke Walton. Walton served as an assistant last season but was promoted in the offseason following Alvin Gentry's departure. He will take charge until Kerr can return to the bench.

The injury is a bit untimely for the defending NBA champions, who began training camp on Tuesday in preparation for Monday's preseason opener against Toronto and the regular season opener on Oct. 27 against New Orleans. The first two days of training camp though have gone smoothly for the Warriors, as early practice sessions and new vigor continue to drive the team's regrowth.

Golden State is no stranger to injuries. They juggled a few last season including Andrew Bogut and David Lee, but next to nobody is more precious to a team than the head coach. Luckily, the Warriors have both new and old faces who will help mitigate the effects of Kerr's absence.

Last week, Golden State hired longtime NBA veteran Steve Nash as a one-on-one player consultant to help Jarron Collins, who was named the team's new player development coach in the offseason. Nash is sure to aid in Golden State's already dangerous backcourt.

In addition to Walton and Collins, thanks to Gentry's departure, everyone else on the coaching staff has been bumped up a role.

The Warriors are optimistic their head coach can make a timely return, and while general manager Bob Myers would not put a time stamp on when that could be, there's hope Kerr should be ready to go by Oct. 27.

The Warriors' maestro was a TNT broadcaster when the Warriors hired him as the new head coach. Kerr, now in his second season in the Bay Area, led the team to a 67-15 record last season and their first NBA title since 1975.