Golden State Warriors

For second time this season, injury sidelines '90s great-turned-head coach

Published Dec. 20, 2015 10:39 p.m. ET

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They say playing in the NBA today is nowhere near as tough as the days Detroit’s Bad Boys, Larry Bird vs. Julius Erving, Shaq vs. Barkley, or even the Malice at the Palace. Apparently the same can’t be said for coaching in the league.

With Steve Kerr having yet to sit on the bench for the champion Golden State Warriors because of offseason back surgery, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Sunday that coach Jason Kidd is taking an indefinite leave of absence to have hip surgery.

"I tried to put off surgery for as long as I could, but after consulting with my doctor, he advised that the best course of action was to have the procedure now," Kidd said in statement released by the team.

Assistant Joe Prunty will coach on an interim basis in Kidd’s absence.

In an odd twist of coincidence, the news came after Milwaukee beat the Phoenix Suns earlier in the day 101-95. The one team both Kerr and Kidd, who both played in the waning days of the more combative NBA, had in common in their careers was the Suns.

Of course, Kidd and Kerr’s teams crossed paths earlier this season, the Bucks ending the Warriors’ record 24-game winning streak to start the season on Dec. 12.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report