Kerr takes leave from coaching NBA champions (AFP)

Steve Kerr is stepping aside from his job as coach of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to focus on his recovery from two back surgeries in the past three months. The NBA team announced Thursday that Kerr would take a leave of absence to continue his rehabilitation from surgery to fix a ruptured disc in July and another operation last month. Kerr led Golden State to an NBA championship in June in his first season as head coach.