Warriors’ Luke Walton wins Coach of the Month despite official 0-0 record

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Steve Kerr showed his sense of humor remained intact after he wasn’t the one named NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month.

“I thought for sure I was going to get it since I get all the wins,” Kerr joked Tuesday by phone.

Luke Walton, who is officially 0-0 as Warriors interim coach, won the award after leading Golden State to a 19-0 record. Kerr said he didn’t expect the team to be undefeated at this point, but that he knew Walton was capable in the role despite a lack of head coaching experience.

“I think he had the right temperament,” Kerr said. “He’s very similar to me.

“He’s really made for it. Nothing rattles him.”

Said Walton: “It’s nice to be playing so well and winning games, knowing that he doesn’t have to stress any extra on the team and can focus on getting healthy.”

Earlier Tuesday, the NBA announced that it would not change its rule that credits Kerr, who is on an extended leave of absence after two offseason back operations, with the team’s 19 victories along with future wins and losses.

In a statement, the league said: “The head coach of record is credited with team wins and losses. Steve Kerr remains the head coach of record for the Golden State Warriors and is credited with those results. Additionally, any team head coach, interim head coach or acting head coach is eligible to be recognized with league coaching awards. Therefore, Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton is eligible for NBA Coach of the Month.”

After winning the award, Walton credited the Warriors’ talented players just as Kerr did.

“Either that, or I’m a really good coach to have zero wins and win Coach of the Month,” Walton joked.

Said Kerr: “Neither he or I really deserve a ton of credit.”

Kerr was happy Walton garnered recognition and said the award belonged to his entire staff. As far as the coaching record, both coaches said they didn’t care who got the credit.

Kerr, after telling ESPN.com last week that getting credit for all the wins instead of Walton was “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” seemed to reconsider his position.

He said he hadn’t realized at the time that had the league changed its policy, former Warriors coach Don Nelson might not be considered the record-holder for most all-time coaching wins. Nelson is credited with 1,335 wins, but some of them came during the 2004-05 season while he dealt with health issues and Avery Johnson stepped in for the time being. Lenny Wilkens finished with 1,332 wins.

“I could see where the league would have a real problem on their hands,” Kerr said.

The league in recent days took another look at the rule in the wake of Walton’s success. Ultimately, it clarified that the standing coach would get credit for wins and losses while the interim could receive awards.

The NFL had a similar situation in 2012 when Indianapolis Colts interim coach Bruce Arians won the coach of the year honors after coach Chuck Pagano left after four games to undergo treatment for leukemia.