The Golden State Warriors have confirmed that Steve Kerr will take a leave of absence as he continues his recovery after undergoing back surgery in the summer.
Kerr enjoyed success in his first year as an NBA coach as he led the Warriors to the title with a 4-2 series triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he was forced to have an operation on a ruptured disc he suffered during the season.
Luke Walton will become the interim head coach ahead of the new campaign after taking on a bigger role behind the scenes following Alvin Gentry's decision to become coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
"At this point, the most important thing is to make sure Steve is healthy, completely recovered and ready for not only the rigours of a long NBA season, but day-to-day life in general," Warriors general manager Bob Myers revealed in a statement.
"We don't anticipate the recovery process will be long term, but as of today we don't know the exact timeframe. We'll evaluate his progress daily and provide updates as necessary."
The Warriors begin their season against the Pelicans on October 27.
