The Warriors opened preseason play against the Lakers on Tuesday night at Chase Center, and the night carried a clear tribute element from the start.
Steph Curry spoke to the crowd pregame to pay tribute to Don Nelson 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/mXpsfX0QYD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2026
Golden State unveiled a new jersey patch honoring Don Nelson, who died in August, with the organization recognizing one of the most important figures in franchise history. Nelson spent two separate stints with the Warriors and is still closely tied to the memory of the team’s 2007 playoff surge.
Before tipoff, Stephen Curry made sure Nelson’s impact was front and center.
“He is second on the all-time list of wins in NBA history. He was my coach back in 2009, with some amazing (moments),” said Curry.
“He was an icon in the NBA family and did so much for the Bay Area, so we want to honor him all year with this patch.”
For Curry, the connection runs deeper than ceremony. Nelson was the first NBA coach he played for after Golden State selected him with the No. 7 pick, and Curry has long pointed to Nelson as someone who believed in him early and helped give him confidence.
Nelson’s coaching résumé stretched across 31 seasons with the Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks. He finished with 1,335 regular-season wins and went 75-91 in 18 playoff appearances. Known for his fast-paced offensive style, he retired in 2010 after Joe Lacob and Peter Guber took over the team’s ownership.
On the court, the Warriors were leading the Lakers in the second quarter when the latest update came in. Curry had 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists in eight minutes, while Brandin Podziemski had 14 points, one assist, one steal, and one block in 10 minutes.
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