Don Nelson was known as a coach who did things differently than most.
He started the small ball movement in the NBA long before it morphed into what it is today. In his latter coaching days, he ran the same type of offense with the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks.
At the time his methods were referred to as gimmicks, and was frowned upon because it had never produced an NBA championship. Nelson's ideas weren't really vindicated, until the Warriors won the NBA Finals in 2015.
Needless to say, Nelson was ahead of his own time, but he always was more of a visionary than a follower.
That’s what makes his interview with San Antonio Spurs beat writer Tom Osborn so interesting. At some point in their conversation, there was a mention that Gregg Popovich would have a rough time now that Tim Duncan is retired.
Notwithstanding Nelson has seen much in his time with the sport of basketball, he couldn’t find a better way to disagree with that notion. His reply was very interesting.
Don Nelson on Pop: "I've been around a lot of leaders in my life, but I've never been around a better leader than him." #Spurs
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) July 19, 2016
As a man who prided himself on doing things the way he saw fit no matter what others thought, he knows why Popovich is such a respected coach around the NBA. He is a leader of leaders.
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