Don Nelson’s Uninspiring Wins Record Chase

No one seems to be particularly happy for Nellie as he nears the all-time wins record, least of all the bitter-sounding local media: “Of course, whenever Nelson gets victory No. 1,333 (it sure didn’t happen Tuesday in Washington) his young players will gather around him and Warriors employees will serenade him. That’s a lot of victories. Nelson should enjoy the moment. But it’s likely that not a single member of the Warriors squad he inherited almost four years ago will be there when it happens. Everybody else from the 2006-2007 team has departed, only Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins remain, and neither is around these days due to injuries and implied frustrations. Chris Mullin, the executive who hired Nelson and eventually was ousted, certainly will not be anywhere near. Nelson’s son, Donnie, who remained in the Dallas front office after his father’s acrimonious exit, probably won’t be there. Lastly, Chris Cohan, the owner who hired Nelson twice, publicly put the Warriors up for sale last month and hasn’t been seen in weeks. Catch a theme here? Nelson survives, somehow, while around him there is only wreckage. And those who know him best stay the farthest away.”