Steve Kerr: Gregg Popovich's Wife Erin 'Was Sort of the Balance That Pop Needed'

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr provided his thoughts on the passing of Gregg Popovich's wife, Erin, in a statement Thursday, via David Aldridge of Turner Sports:

Erin Popovich died Wednesday at the age of 67 after an extended illness, via Michael C. Wright of ESPN.

Kerr and Popovich have been close throughout their careers and Kerr said their wives, Margot and Erin, were also close, and they considered her "part of the family."

Kerr spent four years playing for Popovich before beginning his coaching career, although he was traded from the Spurs to the Trail Blazers in 2001, a move that apparently upset Erin. He was traded back to the following summer before retiring in 2003.

Meanwhile, the Warriors coach saw Erin as someone who would keep Gregg in check after his standoffish interviews with reporters.

Kerr's words are the latest in supportive statements from around the NBA, including from LeBron James immediately following his game Wednesday night:

Golden State and San Antonio are in the midst of a first-round playoff battle with the Warriors up 2-0. However, the Spurs coach will not be on the sidelines for Thursday's Game 3. Per Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania, Ettore Messina will fill in for the grieving Popovich.