Vs: Topikki kaikelle turhalle 2
Don Nelson on edelleen ihan ykkönen!
[quote author="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/22/SPCE1IGJT8.DTL"]
Don Nelson hints at conflict over Biedrins
Former Warriors coach Don Nelson slipped in a handful of noteworthy tidbits amid an hourlong interview that covered the breadth of his career Monday night on "Chronicle Live" on CSN Bay Area.
In his most provocative comment, Nelson seemed to say he was fired primarily for asking center Andris Biedrins to shoot his free throws underhanded. Biedrins shot an NBA-worst 16 percent in 2009-10, Nelson's final season.
"I got fired when I asked him to (shoot underhanded)," Nelson said, and there was no follow-up question. Nelson maintained that he had Rick Barry lined up to instruct Biedrins.
That was part of Nelson's most extensive public comments since being fired in September and his only statements since breaking his silence Feb. 3 with Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert on KNBR. During Monday's interview, he left open the possibility of coaching again and didn't pull any punches about his career.
During his 31 seasons and an all-time best 1,335 wins, Nelson's unique mind was polarizing. His legacy is seen partly as one of innovation and partly as one that emphasized style over substance.
In Nelson's estimation, point guard Stephen Curry has taken a step back from his rookie season, and guard Monta Ellis didn't want to accept the responsibilities of a point guard but is playing more like one than in his previous five seasons.
"I'm not planning to (coach anymore)," said Nelson, 70. "I love Maui. ... I'm torn a little bit. I've had a couple of feelers already, just to check me out and see how I'm feeling. I don't think that I will (coach again), but you never say, 'never.' "
Other quotes of interest:
-- "I made the dumbest trade in my history when I traded (Mitch Richmond) for Billy Owens."
-- "I begged the (ownership) to keep Chris Webber and let me go ... and I could have been in San Antonio and had Tim Duncan."
-- "I thought we should trade Patrick Ewing and whoever else it took to get Shaq (O'Neal, when Nelson was coach) in New York. The next day, someone told Patrick Ewing, and that was the end of my career there."
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