Don Nelson has a rich NBA history, not only as a player but also as a coach for over three decades. Naturally, during this time, the now 84-year-old has seen numerous players come and go.
Reflecting on this wide range, Don once made a significant comparison while coaching the Mavs and working closely with key player Dirk Nowitzki .
"I don't think Dirk likes to be compared to Larry Bird, but that's the obvious choice," Nelson asserted , per SLAM Magazine.
Nelson's admiration for Nowitzki
The partnership between Dirk and Don, as player and GM, respectively, later led the Mavs to their greatest achievement: the 2011 championship title. 'Nellie' was undoubtedly proud of Nowitzki's legendary performance during that run. However, this aspiration actually began much earlier.
Rewinding back to shortly before the 1998 NBA Draft, Don played a significant role in the decision to later acquire the talented forward Nowitzki. The then-Dallas coach, along with his father and the club owner, had traveled to Europe to meet Dirk and his family. Nelson later described the German as the "most unbelievable young player."
Despite early challenges in the big league, Dirk soon rose to prominence, securing his first of eleven total All-Star selections in 2001. The 7-footer went on to claim the MVP title in 2007. Now retired, he's widely regarded as one of the best-ever Euro players, a Mavericks icon, and a well-deserved Hall of Famer.
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Further linking Dirk and Larry
While there's a notable Mavs connection to Nowitzki, Nelson also had a franchise link to Bird , though not a direct one. The former forward had played for the Celtics from 1965 to 1976, the historic franchise where 'Larry Legend' later shone so brilliantly. In Boston, the former 12-time All-Star became both a three-time NBA champ and MVP.
During the same period, 'Nellie' gained his first coaching experience with the Bucks, thus coming close to both legends. Later in the interview, the Hall of Famer reaffirmed his Nowitzki-Bird comparison.
"There's size, they're both big, they can both shoot the heck out of it. They are very versatile players," he stated.
To sum up, both NBA icons possessed these qualities, as noted by Nellie. However, there may have been some difference in how successfully those traits were displayed on the court. Additionally, the fact that they played in different eras should be considered when discussing the true comparability between Nowitzki and Bird.
Related: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why Larry Bird was better than Dirk Nowitzki: "Larry knew where to be on the court to be the most effective for his team"
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