Oct 28, 2008 7:44 pm US/Pacific
Warriors To Open Season; Nelson Contract Extended
OAKLAND (CBS 5 / AP) ―
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Head coach Don Nelson of the Golden State Warriors.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
As the Golden State Warriors prepare to open the 2008-09 season at Oracle Arena by hosting the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night, coach Don Nelson is on the verge of signing a two-year contract extension through 2010-11.
Nelson said the deal is financially similar to his current contract, which ends this season. Such a deal would be worth about $12 million for the 68-year-old coach, who trails only Lenny Wilkens in career NBA coaching victories.
"It wasn't my idea," Nelson told reporters. "It was fine with me to weigh it year-to-year, but they came to me and wanted me to commit to three years. I'm pretty excited about it."
Nelson is 1,280-954 in his coaching career, which began in Milwaukee in 1976. He rejoined the Warriors in 2006 and immediately led the club to its first playoff appearance in 13 years, followed by a 48-victory campaign last season.
Nelson also said he has no interest in becoming the Warriors' general manager if the ongoing differences between president Robert Rowell and top basketball executive Chris Mullin result in Mullin's departure.
Rowell has flexed his muscle in the organization in recent months by apparently overruling Mullin on at least two big decisions: a contract extension for Baron Davis and the club's decision to suspend Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay after the guard injured his leg in a motorized scooter accident.
"I'm supporting Mully the whole way," Nelson said. "I hope he gets his deal done as well. I love working with Mully."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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