DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson will leave the
team indefinitely because of his prostate cancer now that he's passed Red Auerbach on the career victory list.
Nelson entered the game Friday night against Chicago with 938 career victories, tied for fourth in NBA history with Auerbach, Nelson's mentor
and former coach with the Boston Celtics.
The 105-86 victory pushed Nelson out of the tie.
Assistant Del Harris will coach the Mavericks in Nelson's
absence.
Before the game Friday, the team released a statement saying
Nelson, also Dallas' general manager, "will leave the team for an
undetermined period of time to explore a course of treatment for
his recently diagnosed prostate cancer."
Nelson, 60, will go to Salt Lake City on Sunday to consult with
doctors.
"I've talked enough about my prostate. I've run out of jokes,"
Nelson said Thursday.
"There's not really any more he can say. We just want to
respect his privacy," Mavericks spokesman Gregg Elkin said. "We
can't really say right now how long he'll miss because we don't
know what the doctors in Utah will tell him."
Nelson could have his prostate removed or undergo drug or
chemotherapy treatments. His Dallas doctors have recommended
removal of the prostate, and Nelson is going to Salt Lake City for
a second opinion.
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