SAN FRANCISCO – To the NBA at large, Don Nelson was a Hall of Fame coach known for innovative strategies, savvy business acumen and a unique personality.To those who played for him during his two terms as coach of the Warriors, Nelson was all that and more. He was their life force, their lifeline and the life of the party.
“I mean,” Matt Barnes said Tuesday night, “I may not be here if it wasn’t for Nellie.”
It was “Nellie Night” at Chase Center, an evening dedicated to the memories of the man who passed away on Aug. 9 at age 86. Nelson coached the Warriors for seven seasons (1988-95) and after 10 years coaching the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, returned to Golden State in 2006 for four more seasons by the Bay. 1-3-3-5 for 1,335 wins.
Larry Riley, Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes and Chris Mullin hold jerseys to help celebrate the NBA’s second-winningest coach, Don Nelson on "Nellie Night" pic.twitter.com/pttGt2QlXl
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2026 Nelson was a brilliant coach, but those under his tutelage also pay a debt to the man for...