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OAKLAND – Steve Kerr said he thought about faxing his return as full-time coach of the Warriors, but decided to go with a more classic announcement.
He personally told his coaching staff Thursday night, personally told the players Friday morning and then, about an hour later, personally informed the world.
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“I was thinking I’d do it like MJ did and send a fax out that just says ‘I’m back,’” Kerr joked, referring to the famously terse return to the NBA of former Chicago Bulls teammate Michael Jordan.
After sitting out since Oct. 1 with complications in the wake of two back surgeries last summer, Kerr will make his 2015-16 debut Friday night when the Warriors face the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena.
“I’ve gotten a lot better,” he said after shootaround at the team’s downtown facility. “I feel really good, ready to roll. I can’t wait to get back out there.”
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Speculation about Kerr’s return, with dates identified in some instances, has been swirling since mid-December. After being on the sideline for more than two months, he spent recent weeks attending practices and games. He has missed only one road game over the past five weeks and was with the Warriors on their just-concluded trip through Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.
Not until Friday, when the gym door swung open to the sounds of the theme song from ‘80s sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter,” did the 50-year-old coach make it official.
“I really felt like I turned a corner on this road trip,” he said. “I’ve known for the last few months that I wasn’t ready. And after this past week or 10 days or so, I just felt like, OK, this is finally turning in the right direction."
Kerr thanked his wife, his coaching staff – particularly interim head coach Luke Walton – and also his doctors and fans for their patience and concern.
Kerr’s sense of humor remains intact, something implied by his gathering the coaching staff to take in a comedy show Tuesday night in Chicago. He joked about Walton’s performance – “I thought maybe he’d go 40-3. But 39-4, we’ll have to settle for that” – and also about the halfcourt shot he made Tuesday in Chicago.
The Warriors, as much as they bonded with Walton, welcome the return of their head coach.
“I got excited,” forward Draymond Green said, who joked that he may have to be more careful with his shot selection.
Steph Curry said the team, upon getting Kerr’s announcement, had a bit of a celebration.
“He’s looked good for a while,” Curry said. “So it’s nice to know he’s making that commitment to get back. We’re ready to go.”