Of course 19 of those wins have come from the comfort of his Simmons Beauty Rest recliner, as, recovering from two back surgeries, he’s watching interim head coach Luke Walton manage games and practices this season. Using largely the same lineup as last season, Walton has presided admirably over a situation that could have led to some turmoil with the head coach being absent for an extended period of time.
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Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton will not be credited with Golden State’s victories but will be eligible for NBA Coach of the Month, the league clarified Tuesday ahead of November’s Coach of the Month vote.
“Steve Kerr remains the head coach of record for the Golden State Warriors and is credited with those results”, the league said.
Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach David Blatt earned Coach of the Month honors in the Eastern Conference.
The league said in its statement Tuesday, though, that any head coach, interim coach or acting head coach is eligible for the coaching awards.
Under Walton, the Warriors broke the record for the best start to season, eclipsing the 15-0 mark set by the 1948-49 Capitals and the 1993-94 Rockets. The broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy spent long portions of a nationally televised game demanding a change, and Kerr has strongly advocated for his assistant in interviews.
Interim head coach Luke Walton of the Golden State Warriors… The Warriors were 17-0 for heading into their game on Saturday night.
So it’s possible (probable) that Walton will win the NBA Coach of the Month award, which will be announced later today.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports.
