22 Dec 2000: Head Coach Don Nelson of the Dallas Mavericks points down the court during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 108-103. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport | Getty Images
The basketball world lost a giant. The great Don Nelson died on Sunday at the age of 86 after suffering a stroke three weeks ago.
Nelson was drafted by the Chicago Zephyrs in 1962. A year later he headed to Los Angeles to join the Lakers and the Zephyrs moved to Baltimore to become the Bullets (modern-day Washington Wizards). He played fourteen seasons in the NBA including eleven season with the Boston Celtics. In his time with the Lakers and Celtics, Nelson accumulated five championship rings. His number 19 was retired by the Celtics.
Immediately upon retirement, Nelson moved to Milwaukee to serve as an assistant coach with the Bucks. After a 3-15 start to the 1976 -77 seasons, head coach Larry Costello resigned and Nelson began a head coaching career spanning thirty-one seasons over thirty-three years. He is the second winningest coach in NBA history behind Gregg Popovich and coached coached the second most games behind Lenny Wilkens.
Nelson was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1983, 1985, qne 1992 and served as head coach in the All-Star Game in 1992 and 2002. He is credited with the creating the “Hack-A-Shaq” during his time with the Dallas Mavericks.
Nelson will be remembered for his accolades both as a player and as a coach. His name will come up again and again for years to come in discussions of the greats for his stellar record, his longevity, and his inspiration.
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Celtic coach Red Auerbach gives Bob Cousy a bear hug as Cousy finished off a 13-year pro basketball career by leading the Boston Celtics to a 112-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and an unprecedented fifth straight National Basketball Association championship.
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
The 1962-63 season would be Bob Cousy’s 13th in a Boston uniform – and his last, as he had announced his retirement. The Celtics without Cooz was almost unthinkable. He was their first superstar, coming from Holy Cross as an NCAA champion. He would end his career as the Celtics captain, a six-time NBA champ, 12-time All-NBA, 13-time All-Star, 1957 league MVP, eight-time league assists leader, and a Hall of Famer.
The 1963 NBA champion Boston Celtics. | Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images
That same season was John Havlicek’s first in a Boston uniform, the ninth overall pick from Ohio State, where he also won an NCAA title. Havlicek would play 16 seasons, becoming Celtics captain, an eight-time NBA champ (notably, 8-0 in the Finals), 11-time All-NBA, 13-time All-Star, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time All-Defense, the franchise’s career scoring leader (26,395 points) and a Hall of Famer. And his nickname, Hondo, came from the title of a John Wayne movie, because he was said to resemble the actor.
<p>Coach Red Auerbach bear hugs Bob Cousy after the All-Star finished his career by leading the Celtics to a 112-109 victory over the Lakers and an unprecedented fifth straight title.</p>
Stringing their careers together, Cousy and Havlicek gave the Celtics nearly three decades of greatness. And during this one season as teammates, they would help the Celtics win their fifth straight NBA championship, and the sixth overall, making Boston the league’s top franchise, passing the Lakers’ five titles.
The regular season
As they had done every year since Bill Russell’s arrival, the Celtics posted the league’s best record at 58-22.
Russell was voted the league MVP for the third straight year and fourth overall. (Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird are the only players to win three consecutive MVPs). Russell also was named All-NBA first team, as voters cast ballots logically this year and dropped Chamberlain to second team behind the MVP. Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn joined Russell as All-NBA choices.
Red Auerbach’s veteran acquisition this season was trading a second-round pick for 6-foot-9 center Clyde Lovellette. Entering his 10th NBA season, Lovellette was a double-double scorer and rebounder who won a title with the Minneapolis Lakers as a rookie, and was a four-time All-Star who also played for Cincinnati and St. Louis. He would finish his career with two rings as a Celtic.
The highlight of the regular season occurred on St. Patrick’s Day, when Cousy was honored before his retirement. Surrounded by family and teammates, an emotional Cousy couldn’t speak through his tears. In a now-famous Boston sports moment, the arena fell silent until a loud fan boomed out, “We love ya, Cooz!” Ever since, fans at similar sports ceremonies have tried to match that moment with their own shouts. No one has succeeded.
Eastern playoffs
Following their customary bye in the first round, the Celtics were matched up with the Cincinnati Royals — not Chamberlain’s Warriors, who missed the playoffs. But no Wilt did not mean breezing to the Finals. In addition to superstar point guard Oscar “Big O” Robertson, the Royals had All-Stars in center Wayne Embry and forward Jack Twyman.
They immediately showed what they could do, winning the opener, 135-132. Robertson hit Boston with a triple double of 43 points, 10 assists, 14 rebounds. Embry and Twyman combined for 42 points as the Royals overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. Oddly, each of the first four games of the series went to the visitors, so it was 2-2 going to Game 5 in Boston. Robertson scored 36, but Heinsohn offset that with 34 and Boston won, 125-120. Game 6 in Cincinnati was another Big O show: 36/15/14 for his third triple double of the series.
In yet another Game 7 on the parquet floor, it seemed that the only way to stop Robertson was for someone to match his scoring. And Robertson made that tough, delivering his second 43-point night of the series. On this night, however, Sam Jones was just better. Coming through in the clutch as usual, Jones scored 19 points in the second quarter alone. For the full game, he made 18 of 27 shots plus 11 of 12 free throws for 47 points, a new personal best and a record for an individual in a Game 7. (That record stood for nearly six decades until broken by Luka Doncic. Jayson Tatum holds it now with 51 versus the Sixers in 2023.) Heinsohn added 31 points and Cousy 21 points and 16 assists.
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NBA Finals
With their seventh straight trip to the Finals, Bob Cousy now had a golden opportunity to retire as a champion. The opponent would once again be the Lakers, and this time Boston took care of business, winning the first two at home, then prevailing in a close Game 4 in Los Angeles for a 3-1 lead.
In Game 5, the packed Boston Garden wanted to see Cooz celebrate one more time on the parquet. Except Elgin Baylor and Jerry West combined for 75 points and forced the Celtics to fly back to California one more time. Even going for their fifth straight title, the Celtics were not infallible.
After outscoring the Lakers 33-17 in the second quarter, Boston held a 14-point lead at halftime of Game 6. They remained up 12 going to the fourth. The lead was nine with 10:57 to play (an eternity, for sure) when Cousy had to be helped off the floor with a serious foot injury. The LA fans gave him a standing ovation. The timing could not have been worse. After the injury, the Lakers dug deeper and Boston’s lead became thinner.
Turning point
With 4:43 to play, Cousy surprised everyone by coming back on the court. The Lakers continued to apply pressure and got to within one point of Boston, 108-107. Even so, the Celtics having their captain back to stabilize the team was crucial.
The Hollywood ending
The captain being injured in what could be his final game, but making a valiant return and leading the team to victory. Cheesy movie script? Not this time.
The hero we needed
Tommy Heinsohn made several key plays in crunch time. With the Celtics protecting a two-point lead, he stole a pass and went all the way for a layup. Celtics by 4. Moments later, when the margin was down to one and the Lakers had to foul to stop the clock, Heinsohn swished four straight from the line to boost the lead to five.
It wasn’t over until…
Seconds before the final buzzer, Cousy heaved the ball toward the rafters. When it came down, the rebound was grabbed by…Bill Russell. Of course.
Notable facts and stats
It’s possible Boston’s defense finally slowed down the Baylor/West combo. In the 1962 Finals they averaged 71 points combined. This time they combined for 60 in the closeout game and 63 on average combined for the series. That dropoff may have cost the Lakers because Boston’s winning margins were 3, 7, 3 and 3.
Over the six Finals games, the Celtics were led in points per game by Jones, 24.7; Heinsohn, 23.3; and Russell, 20.0. Russell was the rebound leader with 26 per game.
The rookie, Havlicek, appeared in four of the six games, scoring a total of 34 points – but 18 of them came in Game 6. A sign of where he was headed.
Third-year forward Tom Sanders also scored 18 points. Heinsohn led Boston with 22.
In his final line, Bob Cousy played 30 minutes, shot 8 for 16 and 2 of 2 from the line, with 7 assists.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1964 season and the road to winning Banner #7.
Don Nelson, who died Sunday, was an unlikely candidate for a historical basketball figure.
He was not particularly gifted. He didn’t run fast or jump high. At 6-6, in his day, he was kind of too tall for a guard and verging on too small for a forward.
Nonetheless, he built a remarkable career, first as a player, then as a coach and an executive who constantly challenged convention.
He was one of the first, if not the first, to use the idea of a stretch-four or stretch-five. He had versions of small ball with Golden State, but he also let 7-7 Manute Bol rain threes. No Nellie, No Durant, No Nowitzki, no Karl-Anthony Towns.
Current Golden State coach Steve Kerr said this about him:
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today. He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not. So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game.”
Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach said this about Nelson: “He has great knowledge of the game. Someday he’s going to be a coach, and a very good one. He knows the game, and he plays it hard.”
Before he was a coach, Nelson played with the Chicago Zephyrs, then the Los Angeles Lakers, before signing with the Boston Celtics in 1965. He helped Boston win five NBA championships, and in Game 7 of the 1969 Finals, he had a moment most players would kill for.
John Havlicek dribbled the ball down the right side of the lane, then turned, and Keith Erickson of the Lakers made a brilliant defensive play from behind, swiping the ball loose from Havlicek.
Unfortunately, he knocked the ball straight to Nelson, who caught it almost exactly where you would want to start a shot.
Elgin Baylor was close but was slow to react as Nelson rose up. His shot hit the rim, then took a dramatically high bounce before dropping through to put Boston up 105-102, with just 1:33 left.
You might not notice this right away, but as soon as Nelson took the shot, he bolted for the defensive end, suggesting one of two things: coach Bill Russell had instructed him to do so, or Nelson was sure the shot was going in.
As it turned out, Boston won 108-106, for their 11th championship in 13 years.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 29: Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers after winning Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
This week’s question asked you about Jabari Smith Jr. Many had him pegged as the best pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was slated to go number one overall to the Orlando Magic, who actually ended up taking Paolo Banchero, allowing Smith to fall all the way to the Rockets at three.
He’s been a mixed bag since, but he is coming off of the best season of his career. That being said, he hasn’t quite lived up to his draft status. Does that make him a Rockets bust?
Here is what you said:
Only 13 percent of Rockets fans think Smith is bust, and I do think that’s fair. Many of you know that I’ve always been high on Smith, and while he hasn’t quite lived up to my expectations either, he appears to be on his way up, averaging the most points and best three-point percentage of his career.
Smith is also still just 23, meaning he still has plenty of time to keep growing. When he hits 27 or 28, I do think he can be a force, particularly defensively. I still see the potential.
Don’t forget to check out or sponsor FanDuel for the basektball odds. The Rockets are +165 to win 50 games, meaning but $100 to win $165, and they are +3300 for the NBA Finals if you’re feeling really positive.
STORRS, CT – Norman Dale, the fictional coach at the center of "Hoosiers," had his five starters.
Dan Hurley has his roster, and on Friday, the UConn men’s basketball coach made clear he has no intention of shopping for any more players, even as college basketball’s portal chaos rages on around him.
"My team is on the court," Hurley said after Friday’s practice, riffing on the "Hoosiers" line to make clear the Huskies are done making changes to their roster.
The quip doubled as a statement of contentment, with Hurley closing UConn’s summer practice slate by saying he’s not looking to add any new players to his roster following the recent pool of players who were granted eligibility.
Last week, a federal judge in Colorado ruled athletes from the high school class of 2022, who used up their fourth season of eligibility this spring, can return for a fifth year in 2026-2027. It’s a decision the NCAA is expected to appeal, and one that threatens to upend rosters just as school gets underway.
The ruling effectively opened a fresh, unplanned wave of transfers in the first week of August, with dozens of newly eligible players searching for a landing spot.
For Hurley, who has been outspoken about the state of college basketball, the timing only sharpened his frustration.
"Now let's unleash 80 players into the sport in the first week of August," Hurley said. "We can't go on like this. And anyone who acts like it's great, it's good for college basketball, they've already taken the stance that this is what they've wanted, and now they're just defending their position. It's total chaos and it's not sustainable."
Hurley said the summer has been a “roller coaster,” but he’s impressed with the talent and depth of this year’s group.
"There are days you walk out of here and you want to let the company that makes the banners know that we might have a shot at one this year. And then there's days you walk out of here and think your team sucks, and you want to beat your head against the wall,” Hurley said.
UConn returns stars Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr., but also has had an infusion of notable transfers such as Na'jai Hines, Oskar Giltay, Nils Machowski and Nik Khamenia.
The Huskies will have a gauntlet of a nonconference schedule that includes matchups with Duke, Kansas, Arizona, Illinois and Michigan.
Silas Demary ready for bigger role with UConn in 2026-27
Demary is having a great summer so far.
The all-Big East first-team selection and 2026 Naismith defensive player of the year showcased a jump in his offensive game during the scrimmage portion of Friday’s practice. Demary was dominant as a pick-and-roll ball handler while also showcasing high-level shot making from all three levels.
But while the work on the court has improved, Demary is hoping to take another leap as a leader.
“I think being a senior here and being a returner is definitely a lot,” Demary said. “I think just talking to the coaches and knowing that I'll have to step up in that leadership role. They’re helping me, even on my tough days. They’re still telling me how to be a leader and how to figure those things out.”
Demary started all but one game last season when he averaged 10.5 points and 5.7 assists. He said he learned a lot from last year’s seniors Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. to adjust to being in a front-facing role.
“Just being able to go through last year with them and then now being that that older guy to experience the senior on this team, like it's cool. It's a lot of fun, it's cool to see them come to me and ask me about different questions about plays and different reads. I feel like I'm in a great spot, and it's great to see those guys leaning on me.”
UConn basketball freshman standouts
Guard Junior County and forward Colben Landrew were among Friday’s standouts.
County, the 2026 Utah Gatorade player of the year, averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this past season at Wasatch Academy.
“Junior is one of the most prepared freshmen we've had come in here,” Hurley said. “The guy's maturity level, the high school program, his parents –– he came in with great pedigree. You have summers where you just love the way a player comes in, and he probably stands out more than anyone this summer.”
Landrew was a highly touted prospect coming out of Wheeler High School in Georgia. The 6-6, 236-pound forward was a two-sport star as an all-state wide receiver.
“Colben is talented like these early entry guys to the draft have looked like,” Hurley said. “It's the hardest work he's ever done in his life. ... As his body and his mind and his emotions learn to handle that, he'll unleash all of his abilities. But he's got early entry NBA ability.”
He was more than that as a basketball lifer: Five-time champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, three-time Coach of the Year, an innovator on offense and a Hall of Famer. But also, people just liked being around Nelson, listening to him.
On the news of his death Sunday, the tributes poured in from former players, fellow coaches and the NBA family.
"One of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson," Stephen Curry said in a statement. "The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court. He taught me a lot during our one season together and I'll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota. We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game. He's a true icon and will be missed by the countless number of people he touched, including myself, during a legendary career. Sending my love to Joy, his family and all those who were fortunate enough to know him."
Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me…
A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten.
We mourn the passing of former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and celebrate a life that left an incredible mark on our franchise and the game of basketball.
"Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He spent nearly 50 years in the NBA – winning five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics before building one of the most successful and pioneering coaching careers in league history. He brought an unmistakable personality to everything he did, and his impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations.
"I send my deepest condolences to Don's family and many friends throughout our league."
“Don Nelson was one of the driving forces of a basketball era that shaped us. He saw the game differently, challenged convention and trusted his instincts. That influence went far beyond the teams he coached. He certainly influences the way I see the game.
The Golden State Warriors mourn the passing of Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson.
"Nellie" was one of the most innovative and influential coaches in NBA history and an iconic figure in Warriors history. He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was… pic.twitter.com/1k5piSC6xX
"Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not. So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game. His impact on the Warriors is just as significant. He helped shape some of the most memorable teams and moments in franchise history and built a lasting connection with generations of Warriors fans. His legacy will always remain an important part of this organization. My thoughts are with the entire Nelson family."
"Don Nelson had an impact on my life that went far beyond basketball," former Warrior and Hall of Famer Chris Mullin said. "At a time when I needed it, Nellie was there for me. He cared about me as a person first, and I'll never forget the support, honesty and belief he showed me during a difficult time in my life. We shared so much together over the years, and I'll always be grateful for the role he played in my life and career. Nellie was more than a coach to me; he was someone who truly cared. I loved him, and my thoughts are with Joy, Donnie and his entire family."
"When I think of Nellie, I'll always think of the 'We Believe' team and our incredible run in 2007," said Baron Davis. "He understood what made us go and made us believe we could beat anybody, ultimately helping us make history as the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series. That time in my life and career was truly special, and Nellie was a huge part of making it possible. I'll always be grateful for the memories, the laughs and everything we accomplished together. I'm thinking of Joy and the entire Nelson family, remembering the happiness he brought to so many."
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 26: Kevin Love #42 of the Utah Jazz in action during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Delta Center on February 26, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, the Utah Jazz brought on Kevin Love as part of the John Collins three-team trade that helped continue the tank last season. Before the season started, it was rumored that Kevin Love might not be too interested in joining the Jazz once he got there. In fact, we’re almost exactly a year away from when it was rumored that Kevin Love wanted to be traded away from the Jazz. It’s probably good to take that into consideration with the latest rumors regarding Kevin Love from Dave McMenamin.
McMenamin mentions that Love’s agent has been in contact with the Sixers since the acquisition of LeBron James, but it would require the Sixers to drop a player from their roster, which is full.
McMenamin then mentions the connection between Kevin Love and the Jazz:
Though Love has interest in pairing with James to pursue a championship, he has maintained a strong relationship with Jazz coach Will Hardy, serving as a veteran voice with that young group, sources said. Utah, however, also has a full roster.
As McMenamin mentions, the Jazz also have a full roster. Just looking at the Jazz roster, to bring on Love they’d either have to make a trade, or waive someone. They just signed Mo Bamba to a two-year deal with a team option the second season. Would the Jazz want Kevin Love enough to waive Bamba and pay two third-string centers? Or would they be willing to make a trade? The players that aren’t trade-eligible are Bamba, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie, and Jusuf Nurkic. It’s ironic that three of those players happen to be centers so waiving a player might be the necessity.
Personally, I think that Love is worth it. His leadership on the team would be valuable, and he did a lot to help the young players, especially Ace Bailey. With a top-tier rookie like Darryn Peterson joining the team, it might be worth bringing on Kevin Love. The fact that the Jazz are in contact means there is interest, we’ll see if something materializes.
Stephen Curry, if you remember, was no sure thing.
Six teams passed on him in the draft.
There were questions about his size. About his playmaking ability. About his ankles.
Warriors coach Don Nelson (left) was instrumental in bringing Stephen Curry to Golden State. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
But he had one big, boisterous, influential fan: Don Nelson.
“One of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson,” Curry said in a statement Sunday, remembering the life of the larger-than-life coach shortly after Nelson’s family announced his peaceful passing at the age of 86.
Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, spent only 11 of his 31 seasons with the Warriors but oversaw the two most memorable eras of basketball in the Bay Area before Curry’s arrival in the “Run TMC” and “We Believe” teams. Then, he spent retirement growing pot in Maui with Willie Nelson.
He was an iconoclast. Somebody Steve Kerr described as a “true innovator” for the fast-paced, small-ball style that was unorthodox at the time but now is commonplace.
But “Nellie ball” wasn’t the only way Nelson shaped the modern-day NBA.
He helped lay the foundation of the Warriors’ dynasty.
Before Kerr, before four championships and a glistening new arena, there was Curry.
And before Curry, there was a long-forsaken franchise with a fledgling ownership group and an aging coach about to be nudged into retirement that possessed the No. 7 pick in the 2009 draft.
Curry was considered such a longshot that he refused to set up a workout or take a meeting with Golden State’s front office. After all, the Warriors already had a star point guard, Monta Ellis. Curry has since said that he was all but certain he would be taken by the Knicks at No. 8.
Nelson, who died Sunday at age 86, helped lay the foundation for the Warriors’ dynasty. AP Photo/Kyle Phillips
Despite his soon-to-be-lame-duck status, Nelson was a figure of stability in a draft room that featured first-year general manager Larry Riley. It wouldn’t have been very much like him to do the conventional thing or to not have his voice be heard.
He urged the Warriors to take Curry with the No. 7 pick.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“The story is he never liked rookies,” Curry continued in the statement, “but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court. He taught me a lot during our one season together and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota. We were so happy for him.
“He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game. He’s a true icon and will be missed by the countless number of people he touched, including myself, during a legendary career.”
Curry would only go on to play one season for Nelson, and it would take another coaching change to unlock his full potential alongside Draymond Green and Klay Thompson under Kerr.
But ever since Nelson witnessed Curry in-person in the 2009 NIT at Saint Mary’s College, he knew he had something special on his hands.
“I was marveling at his skill from shooting and passing and ball handling,” the Hall of Fame coach recalled to ESPN.com in a 2021 interview. “I just thought he was a star. I never dreamed we were going to be able to get him.”
Curry caught Nelson’s attention during the 2009 NIT at Saint Mary’s College. Getty Images
Even before Curry had sunk a single NBA 3-pointer, Nelson took an interest in the shot that would go on to set a record with 4,248 and counting. The sharpshooter recalled a story from his rookie season on the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash.
“They were trying to get me in the weight room doing all these lifts and stuff. I’m shooting like trash in training camp, the first week, and [Nelson] walked in there and cussed out everybody in the room,” Curry said. “Like, ‘Y’all killing his shot! He’s lifting too much weight!’ I didn’t even know that was a concept. I just wanted to get stronger.”
In case there was any concern about revisionist history, Nelson went on the record about his view on Curry in a little-seen interview during a summer league game shortly after he was drafted.
“Well, I’m a big fan of his,” Nelson said. “I think he’s going to be a terrific player. He’s just starting.”
When Nelson retired, he was the NBA’s all-time leader in wins (only since surpassed by Gregg Popovich). And when Curry hangs them up, he will be considered the greatest shooter of all time.
Who knows how it all would have played out had Nelson not made speaking up for Curry one of the final acts in his legendary coaching career.
Since Steph Curry joined the Golden State Warriors 17 years ago, they have been the blueprint for success in the NBA. But according to one of Curry’s former teammates, the team would have had the same level of success even without him.
“If you switched me and Steph out with the team that won championships, it’d be the same thing,” Ellis told ESPN. “So you’ve got to take the good with the bad, and that’s cool. It put me in a position to make money for me and my family.
“I ran with that.”
Monta Ellis said the Warriors would’ve had the same success with him as they have with Steph Curry.
Ellis was selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft and played with the team until 2012, when he was traded in the middle of the season to the Milwaukee Bucks.
During his first six seasons with Golden State, Ellis averaged 35.7 minutes, 19.6 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He won the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2007. But the franchise was unable to break through during his tenure by the bay.
“Real people that know basketball and all that, …They know the team that I was dealt with.”
Ellis’ career went on to last another six years, during which he still saw regular time as a starter for the Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.
The Warriors only made the playoffs once during his tenure in Golden State, losing in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs to the Utah Jazz.
Meanwhile, Curry was selected seventh overall by the Warriors in the 2009 NBA Draft and saw regular playing time during his first two seasons.
Monta Ellis said the Warriors would’ve had the same success with him as they have with Steph Curry. NBAE via Getty Images
He would go on to revolutionize the sport of professional basketball. Today’s NBA is a direct consequence of Curry’s ability to stretch the floor and shoot from anywhere. Very few people in history have had the type of impact Curry has, let alone Monta Ellis.
Curry, alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, would go on to win four NBA titles. Ellis, on the other hand, did not garner a single All-Star nomination throughout his career.
Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic have joined the basketball world in mourning the death of Don Nelson.
Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a prominent Mavericks figure, died on Sunday at the age of 86.
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” Nelson’s family said in a statement, according to long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein, who is connected closely to Dallas.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Nelson suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and had been admitted to hospice during his recovery.
“Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories,” the family statement continued.
Don Nelson passed away on Aug. 9 at 86. NBAE via Getty Images
Nowitzki wrote an emotional tribute to Nelson, who was his first and longtime NBA coach.
“Nellie… You didn’t just draft me. You believed in me,” Nowitzki wrote on X. “You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I’ve said it a million times and I will always say it: I don’t think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything.”
Nelson was hired as the Mavericks’ head coach and general manager ahead of the 1997-98 season and is credited with the development of Dirk Nowitzki, controversially selected No. 9 overall in the 1998 NBA Draft, and Steve Nash, whom the Mavs acquired prior to the 1998-99 season after he flopped in Phoenix for the first two seasons of his career.
Don Nelson (center) drafted Dirk Nowitzki (41) and traded for Steve Nash (13) in 1998 while general manager and head coach of the Mavericks. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, who played for the Mavs from 2018 until he was infamously traded in early February 2025 to the Los Angeles Lakers, reflected on Nelson’s legacy in a social media post. Nelson was team president when Dallas traded for him on draft night.
“It’s a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson,” Doncic wrote on X. “I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him. Thinking of the entire Nelson family today. I loved getting to know you, Coach.”
It’s a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson.
I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him.
Before becoming one of basketball’s great coaching innovators, Nelson spent 14 seasons as an NBA player and won five championships with the Celtics.
He later became much more accomplished from the sideline.
Nelson coached 31 seasons in the NBA, leading the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks.
He finished with 1,335 regular-season victories, which stood as the league record until Gregg Popovich surpassed him in 2022.
Nelson remains second on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list and was named NBA Coach of the Year three times before eventually being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Basketball: Brooklyn Nets Paul Pierce (34) standing in front of logo at center court during preseason game vs Boston Celtics at Barclays Center. Brooklyn, NY 10/15/2013 CREDIT: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez (Photo by Guillermo Hernandez Martinez /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X157074 TK1 R1 F88 )
Now, with most roster spots — even two-ways — filled and families getting ready for long-delayed vacations, things naturally get less busy. Mobile devices are still turned on but there’s less to talk about, particularly with Brooklyn whose off-season was mostly about one big trade, for Julius Randall, one big draft pick, in Mikel Brown Jr. and one big summer league surprise, Egor Demin. Free agency, which is becoming less of a big deal around the league, saw the Nets add some pieces — Moe Wagner and Keon Ellis, extend couple of others — Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott, and bid farewell to Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams and Tyson Etienne.
Might they be part of some end-of-summer trade, if not a player? Sure, but that’s not what’s expected.
So we’re left as we often are this time of year tracking what’s going on with the players under contract, and there’s been a little bit of news, most of it far away from Brooklyn.
The big gathering was in L.A. as the players’ union, the NBPA, opened a west coast training center in an old Clippers training facility. A number of Nets were on hand for the inauguration of the union’s second players facility, the other in midtown Manhattan not far from Rockefeller Plaza.
We counted MPJ, Tre Mann, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf. Porter Jr. looked healthy and solid and Drake Powell (in the red shorts) was making shots and being aggressive. We don’t know if there were others out of camera range or if we missed any in quickly perusing IG videos. Nor do we know why so many Nets, none of them with SoCal roots, were in L.A. for the opening. In the past, Nets players have gathered near L.A. for self-organized training and bonding sessions. Could that be happening this summer as well?
Meanwhile, Day’Ron Sharpe is back home after an event-filled couple of weeks that saw him get engaged (congratulations!) in Puerto Rico…
… then move on to China — Shanghai, Huangzhou and Hong Kong — with Nets legend Kenyon Martin and assistant coach Juwan Howard (a former teammate of Yao Ming) on a team-organized tour…
… as well as with team sponsors in China and events with the “Cheer Nets,” the Chinese version of the Brooklynettes dance team that promotes the Nets at events across the PRC. They also visited the Huangzhou headquarters of Alibaba, which is headed by Joe Tsai, and an Asian University Basketball League championship game, also in Huangzhou, where Sharpe offered commentary. The league which seeks to replicate the NCAA at universities across the Asia was co-founded and financed by Tsai. Everyone eats.
Meanwhile, someone caught the back seat of Moe Wagner on his more quotidian European vacation, featuring the family dog and a vintage New Jersey Nets cap…
As our Bryan Fonseca noted both in 2018 and we reiterated after he signed with the Nets, a Wagner-Brooklyn mash-up has been in the stars for a while…
Before 2018 Draft, Wagner and those in his inner circle seemed to have an affinity for Brooklyn. During Michigan’s Big 10 run that year, his family arrived at MSG wearing Brooklyn gear. He also said in an interview that he roots for Nets over Knicks. Home.
We’ve also heard Wagner has been living in Brooklyn for a while.
Look Back
Earlier this week, the Nets released a nearly 1o-minute video retrospect on the Nets Summer League team in Las Vegas, focused on Egor Demin’s bonding with the Nets three rookies — Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau — whether on the court or out at a golf range.
There’s also some fun talk and video about Bilodeau’s family history with hockey, his father Brent’s career as a physical defender in the pro hockey circuits.
A couple of pieces of news about the Summer League we picked up recently. We know we’ve mentioned that Jefferson, the 6’9” senior point forward out of Iowa State, is seen as a steal by Brooklyn brass at No. 28. It’s an assessment that’s unchanged despite a lackluster performance in Las Vegas.
Jefferson couldn’t play, scrimmage or practice with Brooklyn at all until the Julius Randle-for-Nic Claxton deal was made official on July 9 so he got a pass. But don’t be surprised if you hear down the line, as we have of late, that that the Nets wanted the exchange of picks in that three team trade specifically so they could take JJ. The Nets had the No. 33 pick, at the top of the second round, before the trade … but believed Jefferson might not be there. So they attached the swap of the Nets No. 33 for the Timberwolves No. 28 in the deal. They believe that Jefferson fell in large part because he was a 22-year-old, four-year senior.
The other is more an interesting look at how the NBA at large can be at a disadvantage when offering Exhibit 10s to NCAA players with a year of eligibility left. The Nets recruited Duke Brennan, a solid 6’10” Villanova big man, to play for their Summer League squad. He didn’t play much in Sacramento or Las Vegas but was rumored to be a candidate for an Exhibit 10 deal with Brooklyn.
An Exhibit 10 contract can mean a training camp invite but it can also be a way for teams to populate their G League squads with prospects. A player signs an Exhibit 10, gets cut and immediately moves to the G League training center. Financially, a G League player on an Exhibit 1o can make about $135,000 a year max: the standard G League contract — a bit less than $50,000 — plus a bonus of up to $85,000 if they stick around the G for 60 days. (Our Connor Long reports that while some teams will try to negotiate that figure down, the Nets do not, providing the full bonus to all their Exhibit 10 deals.)
But Brennan has NCAA eligibility left and so, according to reports, at least five schools would like to add him — and pay him NIL money which could reach seven figures easily. At this point, it look like Brennan will return to school a richer man than if he joined the pros.
Meet and Greet
Last week, the 76ers moved their press conference introducing Jaylen Brown from the 76ers practice facility which is located across the Delaware from Camden, N.J. to the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in West Philadelphia where dozens of children were ready to greet him. They formed a line to slap fives with the player who arguably will be their team’s best this season…
The Nets did it when they introduced their three rookies in early July at their Brooklyn Basketball Training Center also with a line of enthusiastic kids…
Nets did same thing in introducing their three draft picks last month, moving presser to Brooklyn Basketball Center from HSS Training Center. Picks were greeted by 85 kids at youth training facility across from Barclays. https://t.co/MYdy6fqK5Upic.twitter.com/VE8PhNMOPt
The rationales may be different — the 76ers training facility where pressers are usually held is divorced from either community — Camden or Philadelphia — while the Nets training facility is in a century-old industrial park on the Brooklyn waterfront but not far from Sunset Park and other Brooklyn neighborhoods. Traditionally, press conferences around the NBA are held without an audience, particularly kids.
Are we seeing a league trend to bring players closer to their younger fans? For the Nets of course, it’s their strategy: generational fandom — screw the proliferation of Knicks jerseys! Still, every team should be trying to break through what many see as the economic stratification of fandom brought on high prices for everything from tickets to concessions to team gear to streaming services to paywalls for sports pages. No one is hurt more by that stratification than youngsters.
The 76ers portrayed the decision to switch venues as Brown’s desire to get closer to the fans than he could have at a traditional press conference, particularly in Camden. The Nets would only say a presser in front of enthusiastic youngsters was more “festive.” It certainly wasn’t unscripted.
Several of the youngsters were already outfitted with the three rookies’ jerseys just days after the rooks were drafted. After YES Network and NBC Sports’ Noah Eagle asked his questions, the kids, sitting in a semi-circle, got their chance, all of it choreographed. The rooks and Sean Marks then adjourned to a back room where the media asked their questions in a more informal setting than usual. Nothing was lost.
So we’ve now seen it twice. Once more and we’ll declare it a trend.
NBA Schedule comes out this week
We don’t know the day, but the NBA schedule will finally be released. For Nets fans, who are not going to play on Christmas and their national games will probably be counted on one hand, maybe one finger, the big news will be when they open, against who and where; the home opener, and when they will be playing the NBA champion New York Knicks. Remain strong.
The impact of Nelson’s death has already been felt by players and coaches around the league, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and Tim Hardaway.
NBA players, including Steph Curry, and coaches, including Steve Kerr, reacted to Don Nelson’s death Sunday. New York Post
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today. He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others did not,” Kerr said, from NBA insider Marc Stein’s report. “So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game. His impact on the Warriors is just as significant.”
Steve Kerr (above) said Nelson shaped some of the most memorable teams and moments in Warriors history. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Kerr said Nelson shaped some of the most memorable teams and moments in Warriors basketball history when he coached the team from 1988-1995 and during a second stint from 2006-2010.
During Nelson’s time coaching the Warriors, he led them to the playoffs six times and became the NBA’s all-time winningest coach in 2010. He eventually moved to second on that list in 2022, when Gregg Popovich surpassed his victory total. Nelson won 1,335 regular-season games, and Popovich tallied 1,390.
Steph Curry (above) said Nelson played a big role in brining Curry to Golden State. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Curry, who had a long-lasting relationship with Nelson, said Nelson was one of the biggest reasons he was drafted by the Warriors.
“The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court. He taught me a lot during our one season together [2009-2010], and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota,” Curry said. “We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game.”
Curry said Nelson is a true icon of basketball and said he will be dearly missed, sending his love and condolences to his family.
Hardaway played under Nelson twice in his career, when he was a member of the Warriors from 1989-1996 and with the Dallas Mavericks from 2001-2002.
Hardaway said Nelson meant so much to him “as a coach and as a person.”
“Nellie believed in me from the beginning and gave me the confidence and freedom to play my game. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the special years we shared with Run TMC,” Hardaway said of his on-court pairing with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. “Nellie was ahead of his time, and there was nobody else like him. He had an incredible impact on my career and on the game of basketball. I’m going to miss him, and my thoughts and prayers are with Joy, Donnies, and the entire Nelson family.”
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Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. He was 86.
Nelson’s death was announced by the Golden State Warriors, one of the teams he coached.
Nelson is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — also serving as general manager for all three franchises. He was a three-time coach of the year and made the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons. He went to the conference finals three times with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks, never winning a title.
Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style of offense created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from the dominant big men of the 1970s to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from his playing days under Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.
Nelson played 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston and was on five Celtics championship teams under four different coaches. He became an assistant coach in Milwaukee after retiring as a player, then took over after coach Larry Costello resigned 18 games into the 1976-77 season. Nelson coached the Bucks for 11 seasons starting in 1976 and won seven straight division titles.
His fast-paced offenses were probably best on display with Golden State in the “Run TMC” era featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. Nelson said he wanted them on the court at the same time.
Nelson spent 11 seasons over two stints with Golden State. The first one was punctuated by a rift with rookie star Chris Webber, who was traded away a month into his second season. Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season due to illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995.
In between, Nelson was fired after less than one season in New York in 1995-96, then coached in Dallas for eight seasons, missing 21 games with the Mavericks starting in December 2000 to recuperate from prostate cancer surgery.
Nelson’s son, Donnie, joined his father as an assistant coach with the Mavericks in 1998, later became general manager and remained with the organization until 2021. Together they persuaded 20-year-old German star Dirk Nowitzki to pass up European basketball and join the Mavericks. Don Nelson also developed Steve Nash into one of the NBA’s top point guards before Nash went on to win back-to-back MVPs with the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006.
At Golden State, Nelson’s “We Believe” Warriors led by Baron Davis upset Nowitzki and the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 playoffs in one of the biggest shockers in NBA history. In his final season as a coach, Nelson mentored rookie Stephen Curry in 2009-10.
Nelson retired as the NBA’s career coaching wins leader with 1,335, just ahead of Lenny Wilkens’ 1,332. Nelson kept that top spot for nearly 12 years before close friend and now-retired San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich passed him in March 2022.
The NBA community is mourning the death of Hall of Fame player and coach Don Nelson.
Nelson, who won five championships as a member of the Boston Celtics and then became one of the sport's winningest coaches, died Sunday, Aug. 9, at the age of 86.
The Warriors issued a statement on their official Instagram account calling Nelson "an iconic figure in Warriors history" for his 11 seasons with Golden State.
"He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was never afraid to challenge conventional thinking," the post read, in part. "His approach helped shape the game and paved the way for generations of players and coaches who followed."
Steph Curry on Nelson
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry only played for Nelson for one season, but said he was "one of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors."
“The story is he never liked rookies," Curry said in a statement, "but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court ...
"He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game. He’s a true icon and will be missed by the countless number of people he touched, including myself, during a legendary career.”
Dirk Nowitzki flourished under Nelson
As general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nelson was the driving force behind the draft-day trade in 1998 that brought Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavs.
He went on to a Hall of Fame career, spending every one of his 21 seasons in a Mavericks uniform.
"Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me," Nowitzki posted on X. "You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game."
Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me…
