Warriors' Steve Kerr wins NBA Coach of the Year [...] that, according to former interim head coach and current assistant Luke Walton, was because of the path that Kerr had set out before he was sidelined with complications from two offseason back surgeries. "The way he leads, with giving out responsibility and encouragement, allowed us to be able to succeed," Walton said at the trophy presentation at the Oakland Convention Center. Kerr and general manager Bob Myers both took turns thanking Walton, who went 39-4 when the head coach was out. Kerr came back to finish the job as Golden State won a league-record 73 games in the regular season. Kerr also thanked the rest of his staff and the players. "Everything depends on your players," Kerr said. If guys want to be coached ... and they're really, really good, then you're in business. Kerr received 64 first-place votes and 381 points in balloting done by sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country and Canada. Portland's Terry Stotts (335 points) was second and three-time winner Gregg Popovich (166 points) of San Antonio was third. Walton tied for eighth in the voting with five points. Kerr joins Don Nelson (1991-92) and Alex...