Report: Warriors player says coach Steve Kerr might be out until February

The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors could be without head coach Steve Kerr until after February’s All-Star break.

Kerr underwent multiple back surgeries – including one to repair a spinal fluid leak -- over the summer, leaving Luke Walton as the interim coach.

During the broadcast of the Warriors’ 112-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, ESPN's J.A. Adande reported (per CBSSports.com) that he chatted with Kerr before the game and “he still seemed very fatigued" and Kerr is "dealing with headaches (and) is still heavily medicated.”

Walton, 35, has guided the Warriors to a 5-0 start this season. Kerr chatted with his team after the Warriors’ 50-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

“He joked with them that, 'It's obvious you guys need me,'” Adande reported. “Now, they took that as a good sign his sense of humor was back. But he's still far away. In fact, one player told me they wouldn't be surprised if it takes him until after the All-Star break to return. And they're prepared to go that long without him."