Warriors head coach Steve Kerr received a roaring ovation upon returning to the bench for Game 2 of the Finals
Ezra Shaw / Staff
The reigning coach of the year had been absent since Game 3 of the Warriors first round series against the Portland Trail Blazers due to pain and discomfort caused by complications from a back surgery he underwent two years ago. Assistant Mike Brown had taken over head coaching duties during his absence.
There was concern that Kerr would miss the entirety of the playoffs, but Sunday night Kerr was back on the sideline leading the Warriors in their march toward the championship, telling media "The intention is to coach the rest of the series. I'm in it for the rest of the way."
During lineup announcements Sunday night in Golden State, the Oracle crowd gave Kerr a standing ovation, and the loudest applause of the pregame ceremonies. Kerr acknowledged the crowd, wearing a look that made it clear he was humbled by the reception, and happy to be back home.
Kerr also received a warm welcome from the visiting team, with Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue telling SFGate before the game, "It's just great to see him back. Steve Kerr is a guy I respected even before he started coaching. I just like who he is as a person, and throughout the course of the playoffs I've checked on him, and we text and talk. So it's good to have him back over there."
Before tipoff, Lue met Kerr as he walked out of the home team's tunnel, and was the first man on the court to welcome him back.
Additionally, LeBron James made a point to stop by the Warriors sideline and wish Kerr well.
Game 2 ended up being a happy homecoming for Kerr, as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the series with a 132-113 victory with the help of a 33-point performance from Kevin Durant and a Steph Curry triple-double.
The NBA Finals head to Cleveland for Game 3 Wednesday night.
Standing ovation for Steve Kerr#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/aEaHlRHlpu
- NBA.com (@NBAcom) June 5, 2017
sonofthebronx: LeBron James and Steve Kerr greet each other ABC NBA Playoff: Game 2: Cavali… https://t.co/wfWfYbV6tB pic.twitter.com/b8ymkk9TsK
- FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) June 5, 2017
- US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- SC refuses to plea seeking postponement of CA exams scheduled in May
- 10 exciting weekend getaways from Delhi within 300 km in 2024
- Foreign tourist arrivals in India will cross pre-pandemic level in 2024
- Upcoming smartphones launching in India in May 2024
- Markets rebound in early trade amid global rally, buying in ICICI Bank and Reliance
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market