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Wednesday, February 21, 2001
Nelson comes back to bench laughing
Associated Press
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DALLAS – Leave it to Don Nelson to turn his return from
beating cancer into a laughing matter.
|  | | Don Nelson, right, and assistant coach Del Harris share a laugh while wearing clown noses during Nelson's return to the bench. |
Seeking levity on what could have been an emotional night, the Dallas Mavericks' coach celebrated the end of his 52-day absence to treat prostate cancer by wearing a red foam ball on his nose and ending his pseudo-feud with Shaquille O'Neal.
The Lakers spoiled Nelson's comeback by beating the Mavericks 119-109.
Nelson, looking tan and about 10 pounds lighter, was beaming as
he walked into Reunion Arena for his pregame introduction Tuesday
night for the Mavs' game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He
received a standing ovation as the public-address announcer said,
"Welcome Back Nellie."
Once on the court and surrounded by players and cameras, Nelson
pulled the 89-cent, racquetball-sized toy out of his jacket pocket
and squeezed it onto his nose so he'd look more like "a clown,"
which is what O'Neal called him after the Mavericks abusively
defended him the last time the Lakers played the Mavericks.
Nelson's gesture wasn't meant to re-ignite O'Neal's fire. The hatchet had long been buried as O'Neal called Nelson during his recovery and has been saying "I love you, Don Nelson," since hitting town Monday.
O'Neal was even in on the prank as he came over to Nelson, took
the ball off the coach and wore it himself. The pair hugged, then
Dallas assistant coach Del Harris -- formerly O'Neal's coach in Los
Angeles -- put on another foam ball.
"I am a bit of a clown," the 60-year-old Nelson said before
the stunt.
Nelson, a master prankster and former advocate of the fish tie,
was coaching for the first time since Dec. 30. On Jan. 4, his
prostate was removed because the early stages of cancer had been
detected.
The third-winningest coach in NBA history spent most of his recovery time in Maui, where walking on the beaches led to his bronzed skin and the addition of several stray dogs into his household.
His son, Donnie, coached the team in his absence and kept the
Mavericks solidly in the chase for their first playoff berth in 11
years. Dallas went 13-8 (.619) under Donnie compared to 20-12
(.625) under his dad.
Nelson admitted that he plotted for his return to be against
O'Neal and the Lakers.
"I didn't even think about it until a couple of weeks ago, then I kind of circled it," Nelson said. "I wouldn't call it a big splash. I had to come back against somebody. I thought this was a logical one."
While he was gone, Nelson watched about half the games and talked to Donnie roughly every other day. He returned to Dallas on Saturday, met with coaches Sunday and led the team through a workout Monday. The practice included plenty of hugs.
"I needed that from them more than they needed it from me," Nelson said.
Nelson, who also is the Mavs' general manager, said he never considered returning only to the front-office post.
"I wouldn't change this particular job for any job in the
NBA," said Nelson, who has two seasons of coaching left on an
11-year deal that will wean him into retirement. "I'm enjoying
coaching and I'm enjoying working with Mark."
That would be owner Mark Cuban, who missed this game while serving the second of a two-game suspension for racing on court last week to break up a fight.
Although Cuban wasn't present, he said via e-mail that he
supported the foam noses.
"I'm for anything that is fun," he said. "After all, this is a game and games are supposed to be fun."
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