Why profile Nelson:
His long life in basketball is filled with the kind of experiences that make fascinating reading. Plus, as an NBA coach – now retired (?) – nobody has ever chalked up more wins – not even Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Lenny Wilkens, or Red Auerbach, Nelson's coach during most of his 14-year playing career.
Before ever arriving at the Celtics in 1963, Nelson played for the Chicago Zephyrs and the Los Angeles Lakers. With Boston he had the good fortune to span championship teams led by two far different big men, Bill Russell and Dave Cowens. Although his playing days are mostly long forgotten at this point, who can ever forget his distinctive, one-handed jump shots that looked like something out of basketball’s Dark Ages? He also surely is the only player to engage in fisticuffs with former US senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley before the first point was scored in a Celtics-Knicks playoff game.
As a coach, “Nellie” was never dull or conservative. He was known as an innovator during stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. While never coaching an NBA champion, he breathed new life into whatever franchise that hired him, and in 1994 guided Dream Team II to the world basketball title.
