Q&A: Tim Kawakami (San Jose Mercury)- Did Don Nelson back-stab Chris Mullin? + New Golden State Warriors ownership, new ownership, new ownership [Part 2 of 2]

by Atma Brother ONE on May 4, 2010 11:00 PM PDT in Interviews

Make sure to check out Part 1: Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins situations + Ellis and Stephen Curry co-existing

Jump for PART TWO!

Golden State of Mind: In a recent interview with ESPN head coach Don Nelson stressed that he had nothing to do with Chris Mullin's demise and was bothered by some Bay Area writers thinking he was responsible:

"I think the only thing that really bothers me is that some writers in the Bay Area think I had something to do with Chris Mullin's demise. And that's just totally untrue. I backed Chris all the way to the last day. When they finally were going to let him go, I begged them not to. I loved working with that guy. He's truly one of my good friends and that bothers me more than anything."

You've labeled Nelson a back-stabber on several occasions in recent months:

Was that in relation to Mullin's demise? If so, given Nelson's quote above what explains these radically different takes on the situation?

If the back-stab label wasn't in relation to Mullin's demise, then what was it in reference to?

Tim Kawakami: Nelson has a right to his side of the story, and you can believe him if you'd like.

Slight problem for those who want to believe anything he says about office politics: 99.9% of the NBA never believes anything Nelson says, and most of those people have close experience in dealing with Nelson's manueverings.

There's a 30-year history here. But again, if you want to believe in Nelson, I'm not stopping you.

What's Nelson supposed to say: Yeah, I undercut the guy who brought me out of retirement, my former player, and I shoved him aside when I saw that Rowell was jealous of him, and I got the $12M deal when nobody thought I should.

I don't think Nelson's going to say that until he's long sequestered in Maui, when he has a big pile of chips and knows that Woody''s trying to bluff him out of a big hand.

Golden State of Mind: Look into your crystal ball and tell us what you see the Warriors doing this offseason in the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery, the 2010 NBA Draft, and the trade/ free agency market.

Tim Kawakami: As Marcus Thompson II has said, the ownership situation is the only one that really matters. Sorry. Boring. Yes. It's the ownership. I know other things will be happening, but they're all side issues for the big one.

Sorry. Boring.

Draft: If they get 1 or 2, they take John Wall or Evan Turner and re-apprortion the backcourt.

If they get 3-6, your guess, or Larry Riley's, is as good as mine..

Golden State of Mind: More than any other media member you're completely immersed in the Bay Area sports scene. If you could pick a different sports media market to cover intensely for a a few months what would you pick?

Tim Kawakami: Nothing compares to the Bay Area--two wild NFL teams, every major sport, great location.

**********

All of us at GSoM wanted to thank Tim for fielding our questions. It's always fun to have him on our show.

Make sure to check out Tim's blog Talking Points for everything in the world of Bay Area sports. You can follow him on Twitter @timkawakami

Follow GSoM on Twitter @unstoppablebaby

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Comments

With all due deference to TK’s “friendship” status with GSoM, I don’t believe he even answered the question regarding Nelson backstabbing Mullin. Which simply confirms what I’ve always expected, he doesn’t know anything about it.

by Feltbot on May 4, 2010 11:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

edit: “suspected”

by Feltbot on May 4, 2010 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions

That was my question and I honestly think it was a good and much-needed topic for discussion.

I love Tim.

I love Nellie.

But I strongly disagree with Tim’s analysis of Nellie.

Doesn’t mean Tim’s a bad guy or that I don’t appreciate his continued support. I just don’t agree with him on that issue- at all.

Golden State of Mind :: Always keeping it... "Unstoppable Baby!" | SBNation.com

by Atma Brother ONE on May 5, 2010 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Talk about red flags of hyperbole. . .

99.9% of the NBA never believes anything Nelson says

I give pressure the reach-around.

by bloodsweatndonuts on May 5, 2010 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

99.9% of the NBA never believes anything Nelson says

yeah that’s probably a pretty low estimate.

Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 5, 2010 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Doesn’t mean Tim’s a bad guy

Maybe not a bad guy, but a pretty bad journalist. Or really, not a journalist at all. But hey, gossip-monger is a perfectly valid profession…

There will be no extra point!

by Sleepy Freud on May 5, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Maybe it does

Personally, I believe anyone who purposefully “reports” false or unproven information IN A NEWSPAPER with the intention of misleading the public is “a bad guy.”

I find it ridiculous and insulting that he’s considered a “friend” of GSoM.

Dude doesn’t even watch basketball or know anything about it.

by WheresMyChippy on May 5, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Dude doesn’t even watch basketball or know anything about it.

On what do you base the assertion that he doesn’t watch basketball? Are you just making that up?

by jae on May 5, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: On what do you base the assertion that he doesn’t watch basketball? Are you just making that up?

I’d probably “always” agree with you “99.9%” of the time that one should “never” make such a baseless claim, but he is simply applying the TK’s patented fact-substantiation methodology to it’s originator.

I give pressure the reach-around.

by bloodsweatndonuts on May 5, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Agree with you until here

Dude doesn’t even watch basketball or know anything about it.

Can’t go that far.

by VERY VERY BUSY on May 5, 2010 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I can’t stand this guy. How can anybody stand this guy? Since when was constant pessimism enjoyable to read?

Serving it up night in and night out -Steph "The Chef" Curry

by dont_stop_believin' on May 4, 2010 11:42 PM PDT reply actions

ray ratto and steinmetz fall in the same group

Its a GAME – its meant to be fun.
Even with our awful record this year, all the drama, the d-leaguers, the effort night in and night out, the Monta rise in prominance (and fall from grace?), the nellie stories, the curry highlights and roy chase – all made for a fun and exciting season.
I want to win as much as the next guy – but unlike these writers I have perspective. The world has real problems that we should fret over – and sports should be our escape from them from time to time – not another place we get upset about.

by tjmax on May 5, 2010 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Steinmetz makes sense

TK lets his emotions get the best of him and personal opinions get in the way of his work more often than not

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

Attacking others only attacks yourself

by dubzfan on May 5, 2010 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions

you sound like such a bay area sports fan

by eastbayglory on May 5, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

"it's meant to be fun."

winning is more fun.

by eastbayglory on May 5, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

obviously

that was what made the WE BELIEVE season so great. Hopefully we’ll have “more fun” next year!
But remember the year after WE BELIEVE – we won more games, didn’t make the playoffs and the team, especially down the stretch all seemed unhappy to be there?
This season was more enjoyable to me.
If sounding like a bay area sports fan means I see the sport as entertainment not to be taken too seriously (unlike rabid fans who live and die with each game) then thanks for the compliment!

by tjmax on May 5, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Steinmetz has some sort of integrity

He’s a little overly pessimistic, but he’s generally pretty realistic. He’s isn’t just a phony like TK is.

by Reverend_Randy on May 5, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I can’t stand this guy. How can anybody stand this guy? Since when was constant pessimism enjoyable to read?

Since Cohan bought the Warriors and the paper detailed everything that has happened throughout the last 15 years?

by LarryLegendofOracle on May 5, 2010 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Since when was constant pessimism enjoyable to read?

when it accurately describes the situation (unless you prefer koolaid to deal with it?)

Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 5, 2010 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

'guilty 'til proven innocent'

is essentially TK’s position on Nelson, and he sounds contemptuous of anyone who’d trust the coach’s testimony. Didn’t Cuban (a little smarter and more experienced than TK, probably?) try to prove Nelson a liar and lost his case in court, and again before a mediator when he refused to pay the settlement? TK’s assertions about Nelson are based on his interpretation of circumstantial/anecdotal evidence, but he should have greater credibility than Nelson’s own words?

by the.monk on May 4, 2010 11:49 PM PDT reply actions

but he should have greater credibility than Nelson’s own words?

based on past history definitely yeah.

Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 5, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

99%

99% seems awfully high for the distrust that Nelson has around the league. The players now on the team buy into his system. Capt. Jack is causing trouble and Cweb was never about the team. And who you gonna believe Nelson or Cuban?. I don’t even think that 99% of the NBA know Nelson. Nelson must have some trust with someone, he’s won more games than anyone else. You can’t do that laying on the beach in Maui. It seems like you have something personal going on between you and Nelson. Did he stiff you on an interview?

by John Will on May 5, 2010 12:27 AM PDT reply actions

Nelson is probably too complex and nuanced,

too adept at poker and the endless chess match w. the media (Bergman’s “Seventh Seal”) to conveniently slip into the type casts of the shallow narratives prevalent in what passes as sports journalism today. The local media people who’re more focused on hoops, rather than diffusely opining about every sport and their inhabitants like Kawakami (or L.Cohn, who sounds disenchanted w. Nelson as well), don’t all share his view.

by the.monk on May 5, 2010 2:30 AM PDT up reply actions

This sums up my thoughts on the matter. Good post.

Did Morrow get ejected???

by DrManatee on May 5, 2010 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Not only doesn't Nelson give TK interviews but Mullin did, frequently

Kawakami is all about the fake-tough, “I’m not a homer” pose now, but he kissed up to Mullin relentlessly, and was rewarded with frequent on-the-record quotes.

Hence TK’s fury at the W’s ever since they took his pet source away from him. He’s like Spree after the W’s traded Chris Webber. :-)

by Swopa on May 5, 2010 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

TK doesn't answer the Q about Nelson's ethics, but sure does about his own

Kawakami was asked if he could back up his claims about Nellie being a backstabber, especially with regard to Mullin.

He offered nothing to prove the accusation, then did everything he could to repeat it anyway.

Classy, eh?

by Swopa on May 5, 2010 7:47 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

TK doesn’t answer the Q about Nelson’s ethics, but sure does about his own

That’s a great way to put it.

Why are we talking about this?

StR is talking about who their best defensive players were for the last year, here we are squabbling about Tim Kamawaki’s ‘take’ on Don Nelson, when we know he’s going to get ticked off when he hears Nellie, Mullie, Riley, Cohan, or ‘label’.

Atma Bro, not that this is a bad post at all, I just hope I am speaking for GSoM when I’d rather have informative posts to you know, give us some hope about something.

I’ll be glad these days are over, soon.

by LarryLegendofOracle on May 5, 2010 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: I just hope I am speaking for GSoM

This is very unlikely. If you’ve already been banned after a few short weeks, chances are you’re consistantly doing something to piss one or more people off. The next logical step is probably not to start speaking for everyone.

I give pressure the reach-around.

by bloodsweatndonuts on May 5, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually, I was banned after a few months.

Hopefully, I’m not doing anything to piss anyone off now?

by LarryLegendofOracle on May 5, 2010 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Don’t be such a drag!

Stephen Curry is the future.
We need to save this planet. Go Green, recycle, ride public transportation, use cantines. Anything you can do!

by GovernorStephCurry on May 5, 2010 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

"30 years of history"

There is the possibility management was tired of Mullin’s constant poor contracts and moves. His inability to handle conflict (like the Al Harrington episode which turned out to be his LAST move. A Good GM could have bottled the situation), the failure to land a free agent better than Maggette, the gigantic contracts given to Monta and Biedrins compounded with the awful ones he gave in years past.

by tafkasam on May 5, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Atma, I'm a little disapointed in you

(Assuming you did the interview)

I would have expected you to re-butt with the barrage of evidence to why Mullin should have been let go years earlier, mostly stemming from about 200 million in undeserved and overpaid extensions and contracts to the wonderful Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavey, Derek Fisher and Adonal Foyle, and thats without getting into the Monta/Biedrins contracts which increasingly look like overpays. How about the fact majority of his lottery picks were busts? Biedrins has a great pick. But the Notorious POB and the Imfamous Ike where Todd Fuller/Adonal Foyle type flops.

I love Mullin as a player, I think he was a sub-par GM (though he did some good), but all this revisionist history from the likes of Kawakami, tend to annoy me

by tafkasam on May 5, 2010 10:35 AM PDT reply actions

I agree completely on Mullin- check the archives. I don’t think you’ll find a harsher critic than me of his body of work as a GM. I’m on record saying it was a “publicity stunt”.

Mullin should have never been hired and deserved to be fired. The problem is the guy who led his firing campaign (Robert Rowell) also should have been fired. Remember as dumb as those contracts Mullin was handing out were, Rowell was still signing off on them.

In short I completely disagree with Tim’s take on Mullin and Don Nelson. Look if Nellie had anything to do with Mullin’s firing (and it doesn’t seem like he did from all factual evidence), I have to give him his props. Mullin was doing a poor job and I’d hate for the reason for him sticking around that Nellie had soft spot for an underperformer.

But this is not a Q&A with me. This is a Q&A with Tim. I’m not going to spend a segment which he graciously took the time to come on as my speaking box. Hope that makes sense.

Golden State of Mind :: Always keeping it... "Unstoppable Baby!" | SBNation.com

by Atma Brother ONE on May 5, 2010 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yes, I would actually say it’s your posting which got me to re-consider my views on Mullin as previously, like all Warriors fans, it’s hard to dislike the guy. But the facts speak for themselves. I mean the man offered Derek Fisher 6 years 37 million when his highest offer was 3 years 15 million!

Good point on Rowell. Can’t disagree

But this is not a Q&A with me. This is a Q&A with Tim. I’m not going to spend a segment which he graciously took the time to come on as my speaking box. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, and I can’t disagree with your position on the matter either. Not most polite thing to do. I’ve just been so desperate for someone to go after Kawakami when he spouts off like this. For the record, I don’t mind him, i think he provides a nice balance for the kool-aid KNBR and comcast drink on bay area sports. But I think he goes to far with certain claims.

by tafkasam on May 5, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions