Golden State coach Nelson gets contract extension

Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson gained a little bit of certainty concerning his immediate future on Friday as the team offered and he accepted a two year contract extension.  While Nelson has yet to formally sign the deal he’s indicated that he is planning to do so.  His contract originally expired at the end of this season, and the extension reflected his solid coaching job highlighted by last year’s 48-34 record.  While that was better than all but three teams in the Eastern Conference it wasn’t good enough for a playoff berth in the loaded West.

Nelson’s enhanced security, however, only increased the uncertainty surrounding the status of Warriors VP of Basketball Operations and de facto GM Chris Mullen.  There had already been considerable speculation in the front office and among the media that Mullen wouldn’t be retained when his deal expires at the end of the season.  Nelson’s new contract only heightened speculation that the venerable coach was also being groomed to assume the GM duties upon Mullen’s ouster.  Nelson, for his part, adamantly denies that scenario:

"No. No. Don't want to be. No. I'm not interested in general manager, or coach and general manager, or anything else. I'll support Mully the whole way. I hope he gets his deal done as well. I love working with Mully. I'm a coach. Period."

Nelson, who turns 69 in May, has shown no interest in retiring and has a couple of big goals to keep him motivated.  He’s 53 regular season victories away from passing Lenny Wilkens as the winningest coach in NBA history.  Despite these victories, and despite 5 rings as a player with the Boston Celtics, Nelson has also never won an NBA title as a coach.

Golden State will begin their regular season Wednesday, October 29th as they host the New Orleans Hornets before hitting the road for a game in Toronto against the Raptors on Halloween night.