Basketball Corridor of Famer Don Nelson was offered with a lifetime achievement award Sunday night time after which trashed one among his former franchises for buying and selling Luka Doncic.
Nelson performed 14 NBA seasons from 1962-76, ranks second in NBA historical past with 1,335 regular-season teaching victories over 31 seasons and guided his groups to 18 playoff appearances earlier than retiring in 2010. He held the victories file till Gregg Popovich handed him in 2022.
These accomplishments helped the 85-year-old get offered with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday night time in Oklahoma Metropolis. The award is given out by the Nationwide Basketball Coaches Affiliation.
“Historical past has already mirrored Don Nelson’s staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA recreation,” Indiana Pacers coach and NBCA president Rick Carlisle stated in a information launch. “Again within the ’80s and ’90s, he made groups modify to historic tempo, liberal 3-point taking pictures, inverted offense and disruptive defensive schemes. All this whereas establishing himself as one of the compelling personalities in all {of professional} sports activities.”
Nelson had greater than the award on his thoughts. One among his former groups, the Dallas Mavericks, made the extremely criticized transfer of Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers previous to the buying and selling deadline.
The commerce upset Nelson and he picked his footwear to honor Doncic, who practically single-handedly led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals.
“As a matter of truth, I need everyone to know I am carrying Luka’s sneakers, his new sneakers from Nike that simply obtained in the marketplace,” Nelson stated throughout a press convention earlier than Sport 2 of the NBA Finals. “I am carrying them in protest for the commerce from Dallas. Great mistake by the Dallas franchise to commerce him, and I need everyone to know that.”
Nelson stated his philosophy on star gamers was one thing that was developed throughout his enjoying profession. He received 5 NBA titles whereas watching how Corridor of Famer Purple Auerbach put collectively and stored collectively the star-studded Boston Celtics, who had been led by five-time MVP Invoice Russell and 13-time All-Star John Havlicek.
“His philosophy was when you could have an excellent participant — Invoice Russell, Havlicek, Sam Jones, you title ’em — you do not lose that participant,” Nelson stated. “You retain him for a lifetime. You set his quantity up, and also you honor that participant. That is been my philosophy.”
Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors for 11 seasons apiece. After a 59-game stint with the New York Knicks by which he was fired in 1995-96, Nelson was coach and normal supervisor of the Mavericks from 1997-2005. He later coached the Warriors for one more 4 seasons.
Accolades apart, Nelson was honored to earn an honor named after the late Daly, who received back-to-back NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
“Chuck was an absolute genius in all aspects of the sport and life,” Nelson stated. “I am glad I had the chance to teach towards him, be taught from him and profit from his data. To say that I am deeply touched to obtain an award that bears his title could be an understatement. That is particular.”
–Discipline Degree Media
