Nellie Knows NBA Draft: The Warriors and Mavericks Years

…say Richmond. It’s a shame for all Nellie’s draft genius he had such a jones for Billy Owens, though.

1998 should be one choice, and how can anyone argue nash and Nowitzki? Turned that francise completely around and both those guys have been league MVP’s. It’s no contest.

That run of 6 drafts starting in 88 where he picked players who would later play in all-star games was unreal. Sure, Gatling and Hill were one-time contestants when the LEastern conference was short on forwards, but it’s still quite an accomplishment. Has anyone else ever taken future All-Stars in as many consecutive drafts?

(Noticed that both the poll and the description list Richmond as being drafted in 19*98* rather than 88. Nellie’s so good at the draft that he can actually bend the space time continuum!)

was an awesome player. had a problem with authority though, but can’t really fault a guy for that…

Commenting on chokegate, then SF mayor Willie Brown was quoted as saying, “He may very well have deserved to be choked…” Despite conventional wisdom, I have to agree with the mayor on this one.

Well I consider myself Sprewell’s biggest fan but I have to say Dirk was Nellies best pick. Now Back to Sprewell. Whatever team he played for was my favorite. When he stopped playing I became a warrior fan all over again, where it all started. He obviously had the PJ situation and then his comments about feeding his family he regrets. (he hasnt spoken publicly since and I read where his agent said he knew he was wrong and felt ashamed).
I’ve had two close friends meet Spree in person and both have had only good things to say.
His intensity was below none. He always had energy it was amazing and like some of you said he was a really good defender that usually got overlooked. He played sf in New york so Houston could play sg and he never complained. He usually defended the other teams best offensive player. I know with the warriors spree was more of a gunner but to me it sure seemed like after that year of not playing his game changed. I always thought New York under utilized his skills and open court ability. They played beat the shot clock under Van gundy. By the time he made it to the T wolves he didnt drive/slash as much but he was a deadly 3 pint shooter. The t wolves should have won it in 03-04(damn Fakers!)

 One of the biggest weaknesses of MR Nellie is he over tinkers, this is why he traded Mitch the second coming for Billy O, and is why he was in on the JRich for BW fiasco, it had Nelsons fingerprints all over it:

I like the fact that he is looking to improve but he has a history of ruining the chemistry of the team with some of these bone head moves, this is where a wise owner or GM can help, but the sad part is we have neither, were struck with an inept owner who everyone hates, and a Nelly flunky who owes his career to one, Don, I’m da man

Grump O

I think Nellie should get a little credit for one of the first good european imports, waaay before the rest of the league, and during the cold war to boot. Nellie lobbied the USSR for years and pretty much had to trade his son to the USSR to get Sarunas to play here. “Rooney” was a great 6th man until his knee blew out, and entertaining as hell. I think he won the 6th man award one of those years. How deep were the Warriors at guard back then? To make roster space for Sarunas we ended up cutting a guy named John Starks.