During his three-year tenure as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr’s team has gone an incredible 207-39 in the regular season and 47-15 in the playoffs, winning two NBA championships. The Warriors famously blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals, which essentially means that Kerr could have won three titles in his first three seasons as a head coach.

But, unfortunately, Kerr’s last two seasons haven’t been pretty from a personal health perspective. Former assistant Luke Walton filled in for him during the 2015-2016 campaign before landing the Los Angeles Lakers gig, going 39-4 when Kerr was out with complications stemming from multiple back surgeries.

This past season, assistant Mike Brown went 11-0 to start the playoffs before Kerr returned at the end of the run to finish as a champion.

“My heart goes out to him,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said about Kerr before Game 2 of this past Finals. “I think, as he and I talked about, it puts this all into perspective. I think for those who have dealt with long-term physical ailments or had family members or others, all those cliches are true, that nothing is as important as your health. And I think that, as Steve said, this should be one of the great moments of his storied basketball career, and instead he's going to be sitting in the locker room rather than being out on the floor coaching his team.” 

However, this is a new year and Kerr has plans to stay on the sidelines for the entire season.

“I fully expect to coach all year,” Kerr stated to Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s my expectation. And for many years to come… I enjoy what I do; I don’t look at it like a grind and pressure. I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym.”

When asked about his health, Kerr gave some positive news.

“It’s all right, it’s all right,” Kerr said. “I’d love to say that I’m all better, but not the case. I’m feeling better, having a good summer, relaxing. But it’s just been an ongoing thing now for two years… I’ve definitely gotten better, I’ve made some improvement. But I still feel like there’s improvement to make.”

While he missed a number of games due to his health issues, Kerr’s pride for what he helped build in Golden State is obvious.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I love being part of something special. In a perfect world, I will get some relief from the pain I’ve felt, so I can enjoy it more,” the 51-year-old coach explained.

His humility was also on display in his interview with Ostler. Kerr went so far as to explain that coaching his team is simple if he follows one basic principle.

“The players see through all the b.s.,” Kerr noted. “And to me, that’s what NBA coaching’s all about. College is a little different, you can have the authoritarian coach, but the NBA game’s about the players. The coaches are the stewards. The players gotta know you’re in charge, and that you know what you’re talking about, but in the end it’s about them.”

Hopefully Kerr will remain on the sidelines for the entire season in 2016-2017, but if he has to take a few games off, it seems as though the well-oiled machine that is the Warriors offense will still click without him.