Don Nelson out in Golden State

[Andrew]

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski:

Don Nelson has been pushed out as Golden State Warriors coach and replaced with assistant Keith Smart, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Nelson, the all-time winningest coach in NBA history, will officially resign and accept a settlement on the $6 million owed him on his contract. The Warriors are expected to announce the change on Monday.

New Warriors owner Joe Lacob was determined to replace Nelson as coach, and Nelson, sources said, was glad to take his money and return to retirement in Hawaii.

The Warriors have their media day on Monday and open training camp on Tuesday. Sources said Nelson had been at the Warriors’ practice facility early in the week for the team’s informal workouts. His agreement to part ways with the franchise, a source said, was amicable.

Anyone think that'll be it for Nelson? Seems likely given he turned 70 back in May, but then Hubie Brown returned for that brief stint with the Grizzlies some years back so perhaps we'll see one more NBA run from Nelson.

[Lamrock]

This is the worst news I've heard in a long time.

[shadowgrin]

Lamrock is so sad with this news that he didn't make the thread first, Andrew beat him to it.

The Hawks should hire him.

[Dan's Brain]

I'm probably very much in the minority here, but I really don't like watching the Warriors play. There just doesn't seem to be any art or thinking to it. I'm sad for Don Nelson, but I think that this is good for the team.

[Jeffx]

His style never wins championships. Nellie's always been a gimmick coach. He'll take your team to a certain point, but that's it. If you want to go deep in the playoffs, it's all about tough, hard-nosed defense, rebounding and smart offense. Look at the way Boston and LA played Game 7. Complete opposite of Nellie-ball. And Nellie has no clue on how to coach big men. He actually wanted to play Patrick Ewing at forward and Anthony Mason at center. We all know how that worked out.

[Murat]

As seen at Mavericks (Dirk played SF for a while).
Also the only coach that he didn't have any championship as coach at NBA's Best 10 Coaches list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Greates ... ry#Coaches

[shadowgrin]

Because young Dirk was still a pansy then that played no D. He would've been slaughtered at PF then. Stupid German-hating Badger.

[Axel The Great]

I think hova- is gonna tear Badger apart.