Don Nelson became the winningest coach in NBA history Wednesday as his Golden State Warriors beat Minnesota 116-107, giving the maverick head coach win No. 1,333.
Don Nelson became the winningest coach in NBA history Wednesday as his Golden State Warriors beat Minnesota 116-107, giving the maverick head coach win No. 1,333.
The victory not only vaulted Nelson past Lenny Wilkens but established him as a virtual lock for a spot in the American basketball hall of fame. He is the only NBA coach with at least 1,000 wins that is not in the hall of fame.
"I actually would have been very happy to be tied. It would have been fine with me," Nelson said. "My boys did it tonight. They found way to get it done.
"I told them in huddle that I loved them to death but sometimes they are a pain in butt to coach."
Nelson has 1,061 losses to go with his 1,333 wins and through it all he has done it his way, clashing with owners, management and players but winning the respect of those who worked with and against him.
"The success he's had, the longevity he's had, it's tough to be a coach in this league and to stick around as long as he has," Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said.
"To have the success that he's had, the numerous situations he's been in. He's done a great job."
Stephen Curry finished with 27 points, 14 assists and seven steals and Anthony Tolliver scored a career-high 34 points to get Nelson the historic win.
Kevin Love had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the losers.
Warriors' Ronny Turiaf put the exclamation point on the win by pouring a cup of juice over Nelson's head as the players mobbed their coach at the end of the game.
Nelson has family that lives in Minnesota and they were at the game along with his wife who made the trip.
The 69-year-old bench boss felt humbled by surpassing Wilkens.
"Lenny's been an idol of mine for a long time," he said.
Nelson's first head coaching job was in Milwaukee in 1976 when he replaced Larry Costello 19 games into the season.
He has also coached the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks. In 2006-07 he led the eighth-seeded Warriors to an upset of Dallas in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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