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 Biography: Don Nelson, former NBA Head Coach and three-time winner of "NBA Coach of the Year", is perhaps best known as being the coach and general manager of the Dallas Mavericks' from 1997 until his retirement in 2005. Nelson had a career record of 339-251 as the Mavericks' head coach, and was instrumental in building some of the franchise's most successful teams. Don Nelson has also coached for the Milwaukee Bucks, (1977-1987), The Golden State Warriors, (1988-1995), and, briefly, whth the New York Knicks, (1995-1996). He is credited with, among other things, inventing the concept of the "Point Forward", a tactic which is frequently employed by teams at every level today. In 1994, Nelson was invited to coach the Dream Team II at the 1994 World championships in Toronto. He accepted and led them to the Gold Medal. He and Pat Riley are the only coaches ever to be named "Coach of the Year" three times (1983, 1985 and 1992). On December 29, 2001, Don Nelson became the third coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games, behind Lenny Wilkens and Pat Riley. Don Nelson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1962 as a two-time All American averaging 21.1 points and 20.5 rebounds a game. He was drafted 19th overall by the Chicago Zephyrs of the NBA. He played for the Zephyrs for two years until being sold to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1964. He was released the following year (1965) and signed by the Boston Celtics. Nelson completed his best NBA season averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds and led the Celtics to NBA title as one of their role players. Nelson was coined as on of the "best xith men" ever to play in the NBA. In 1976, Nelson began his career as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks while still playing as a player for the team. He retired from playing after a 14 year tenure as a player. His number 19 was retired in the Boston Garden rafters in 1978 and still stands today at the Garden's replacement, TD Banknorth Garden. Nelson took over the reins of General Manager and Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1976 and began to show what would later become his signature style of wheeling and dealing players. He earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in 1983 and 1985. It was in Milwaukee where he introduced the concept of the point forward. He led the Bucks to many Central Division championships and playoff berths. He would leave Milwaukee after ten seasons, seven with over 50 wins. After a year's hiatus, Nelson then became Coach and Vice President of the Golden State Warriors, and was named NBA Coach of the Year a third time. In 1995, Nelson began his stint with the Knicks, which lasted from July until March of 1996. In 1997, Nelson was named Head Coach/General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks and led them to four consecutive 50 win seasons. In Dallas, Nelson created an offensive powerhouse in which every player could score at any time. In the 1999-2000 campaign, Nelson led the Mavericks to a 40-42 record which included a 9-1 April which was the best month in team history. The great turnaround continued during 2000-2001 as the Mavericks became one of the best teams in the NBA. One notable result of Nelson's tenure at the helm of the Mavericks was the introduction of the somewhat controversial "Hack-a-Shaq" defence to the NBA. On March 19, 2005, Nelson stepped down as Dallas' Head Coach, naming Avery Johnson as his successor. Nelson retained his job as Dallas' General Manager until after the season, when he named his son, Donnie Nelson, as his replacement. Don Nelson has established himself as one of the winningest coaches in NBA history, and one of the NBA's premier basketball executives over the last three decades.
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