Don Nelson Wanted to Coach Minnesota Timberwolves

Don Nelson, the winningest coach in NBA history, will be formally inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame September 7. Since retiring from the NBA two seasons ago, the 72 year-old Nelson has been living on the Hawaiian islands with his wife, Joy, and their three dogs. But if it were his choice, Nelly may have actually continued his reign on the sidelines, coaching the KLove/Rubio Minnesota Timberwolves. From the Sacramento Bee: “A few other Nelson offerings of note: He despises the isolation game he once so effectively exploited; considers the European system of cutting, movement and passing as more appealing that the modern NBA diet of dribble-heavy, one-on-one play; regards his close friend, Gregg Popovich, as the league’s premier coach; and admits that he desperately wanted the Minnesota Timberwolves job that went to Rick Adelman—’I would love to have coached Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love’—but insists his career victory total will stay at 1,335. He also speaks frequently with Nowitzki, texts occasionally with his old sparring partner, Mark Cuban, and retains tremendous affection for the Bucks, Mavs and Warriors organizations.”