Full Nelson

Paul Trapani

“I’m 66, I’m gonna say what I want. If somebody doesn’t like it, I don’t really give a shit.” — don nelson

Paul Trapani

"He tells guys where things are at," Jackson says of Nelson.

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More About

• Don Nelson
• NBA Pacific Division
• National Basketball Association
• Golden State Warriors
• Dallas Mavericks

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"He turned my career around," says Barnes, averaging 10 points a game, almost triple his career average. "How can you not want to play for a coach who gives you a chance?"

It's the sort of comment that Nelson regards as the purpose of his work. When asked if his career will be complete if he fails to capture a title as a coach, he smiles yet again. "I should probably say no, but the answer is yes. It's not the destination, it's the journey. It's about teaching players to live the right way, helping them be better people." Then the coach with the second-most wins in NBA history takes another tug on his cigar.