NEW YORK (AP) — With Steve Kerr back on the Golden State bench, the NBA is trying to determine who will coach the Western Conference All-Stars.
Kerr returned from back surgery Friday, but is ineligible to coach in the All-Star Game after doing so last year. The league is deciding if Warriors assistant Luke Walton would be eligible.
Spokesman Tim Frank says: “We are reviewing our rules around the West coach situation to determine what is appropriate.”
Walton led the Warriors to a 39-4 record and a two-game lead over San Antonio in Kerr’s absence.
Coaches are not allowed to coach consecutive years, a rule that dates to Pat Riley’s dominance of the West when he coached the Lakers in the 1980s. Had Kerr been coaching all season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would have already secured the West spot.
The coaches for the Feb. 14 game in Toronto are determined by the teams with the best winning percentage in each conference through Jan. 31. Tyronn Lue, who replaced the fired David Blatt in Cleveland on Friday, would guide the East if the Cavs remain on top.