

Sun Jun 8 11:21pm ET
Field Level Media
Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson was presented with a lifetime achievement award Sunday night and then trashed one of his former franchises for trading Luka Doncic.
Nelson played 14 NBA seasons from 1962-76, ranks second in NBA history with 1,335 regular-season coaching victories over 31 seasons and guided his teams to 18 playoff appearances before retiring in 2010. He held the victories record until Gregg Popovich passed him in 2022.
Those accomplishments helped the 85-year-old get presented with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The award is given out by the National Basketball Coaches Association.
"History has already reflected Don Nelson's staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game," Indiana Pacers coach and NBCA president Rick Carlisle said in a news release. "Back in the '80s and '90s, he made teams adjust to historic pace, liberal 3-point shooting, inverted offense and disruptive defensive schemes. All this while establishing himself as one of the most compelling personalities in all of professional sports."
Nelson had more than the award on his mind. One of his former teams, the Dallas Mavericks, made the highly criticized move of Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the trading deadline.
The trade upset Nelson and he picked his footwear to honor Doncic, who nearly single-handedly led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals.
"As a matter of fact, I want everybody to know I'm wearing Luka's shoes, his new shoes from Nike that just got on the market," Nelson said during a press conference before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. "I'm wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas. Tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him, and I want everybody to know that."
Nelson said his philosophy on star players was something that was developed during his playing career. He won five NBA titles while watching how Hall of Famer Red Auerbach put together and kept together the star-studded Boston Celtics, who were led by five-time MVP Bill Russell and 13-time All-Star John Havlicek.
"His philosophy was when you have a great player -- Bill Russell, Havlicek, Sam Jones, you name 'em -- you don't lose that player," Nelson said. "You keep him for a lifetime. You put his number up, and you honor that player. That's been my philosophy."
Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors for 11 seasons apiece. After a 59-game stint with the New York Knicks in which he was fired in 1995-96, Nelson was coach and general manager of the Mavericks from 1997-2005. He later coached the Warriors for another four seasons.
Accolades aside, Nelson was honored to earn an honor named after the late Daly, who won back-to-back NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
"Chuck was an absolute genius in all facets of the game and life," Nelson said. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to coach against him, learn from him and benefit from his knowledge. To say that I'm deeply touched to receive an award that bears his name would be an understatement. This is special."
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Hawks as the team manages his workload during the first leg of a back-to-back. If the former MVP sits, Bobby Portis could take on a larger scoring role and profiles as a strong streaming option after posting 19 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 26 minutes last game. Jericho Sims could also see extra minutes, though he is more of a fringe option unless you are in deeper formats.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (ankle) will be re-evaluated in two weeks as he continues recovering from an ankle injury that has already cost him multiple games. With Sacramento out of the playoff race, Murray does not appear close to a return. He is becoming a difficult hold with the fantasy season nearing its final stretch. Precious Achiuwa has stepped into a larger role, posting 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes in his last start, while Daeqwon Plowden added 13 points with three 3-pointers off the bench. Achiuwa is the priority target on waivers, while Plowden may also see enough run to warrant deep league attention.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Lakers after sitting out one contest for injury management. The veteran forward is still working his way back after a long layoff, so some inconsistency is expected. Gordon showed upside on March 9 with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 29 minutes but followed with a quieter 23-minute outing two days later. He remains a hold in most formats, though expectations may need to be tempered in the short term. His return should push Spencer Jones back to a smaller bench role.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Lakers after dealing with a minor left ankle issue earlier this month, though it has not forced him to miss time. The veteran guard remains a must-start fantasy option while healthy, averaging 26.0 points, 2.2 three-pointers, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over his last five games. Murray logged 40 minutes with seven assists and a steal in his last outing. His presence keeps the rotation intact, with Nikola Jokic leading the offense and Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) filling secondary roles.
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (leg) will remain on the sideline ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This marks the third game in a row that Sexton has missed with a leg injury. Fantasy managers should consider Sexton questionable ahead of Monday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. The absence of Sexton should mean that Rob Dillingham continues to see increased run in the rotation. He finished with 12 points, seven assists, and five rebounds across 29 minutes of action on Thursday. Outside of that performance, Dillingham has mostly been a dud lately. He'll be a possible deep league option while Sexton is out.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Utah Jazz. This appears to be a maintenance day for Williams, but he should be back for Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. In his absence, Yang Hansen and Sidy Cissoko should see an increased look in the rotation. Neither player figures to do enough damage as the backup center to be worthy of streaming for Friday's slate.
Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Bulls have decided to take the cautious approach and rest Smith in the second leg of this back-to-back set. Guerschon Yabusele and Nick Richards should see a bump in playing time without Smith available. Between the two, Richards is the better streaming choice ahead of Friday's slate. Richards has been posting consistent numbers and is worthy of a look in at least deep leagues.
Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (groin) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Melton is back after missing Tuesday's game due to injury. His return to the rotation should shift Will Richard back to the second unit. This season, Melton is averaging 13.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 22.5 minutes per game. He does enough on the court to warrant a look in deep leagues. He has scored 20 points or more in four of his last six games. Fantasy managers might want to consider streaming Melton while he's hot.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (back) has been downgraded to out ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Green was a late addition to the injury report and will now officially miss Friday's contest. Al Horford is already starting, so Will Richard figures to draw the start in place of Green. Richard was expected to head to the bench with De'Anthony Melton (groin) returning. Instead, Richard likely plays a bigger role with Green unavailable on Friday. Richard should do enough on the court to warrant a look in deep leagues.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (knee) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Edwards will shed the questionable tag and officially suit up for Friday's game. Edwards is dealing with right knee soreness, but it's not significant enough to keep him out of action. Over the last six games, Edwards is averaging 28.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds across 34.7 minutes per game. Fantasy managers should double-check their lineups and make sure Edwards is in there ahead of tip-off.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Dosunmu is back in the mix after missing Wednesday's game due to a thumb sprain. His return to the lineup should mean Terrence Shannon Jr. will see a reduced role in the rotation. Since joining the Wolves, Dosunmu is averaging 11.0 points and 2.5 assists per game. When healthy, Dosunmu does enough on the court to at least roster in deep leagues.
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (groin) is tagged as questionable ahead of Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic. Powell is hopeful to return to the court after missing seven games in a row due to a groin strain. If he's cleared, Powell will likely be on a minutes limit considering he hasn't played since late February. His return to the court would mean fewer minutes for Kasparas Jakucionis, Dru Smith (hip) and Simone Fontecchio. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday ahead of tip-off for a final update on Powell.
Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (toe) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic. This marks the fifth game in a row that Wiggins has missed due to a left toe injury. The fact that Wiggins is being ruled out a full day in advance likely means he isn't close to returning. Fantasy managers should consider Wiggins as doubtful ahead of Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Myron Garder, Kel'el Ware, and Simone Fontecchio should all continue to see increased workloads on Saturday. Ware is the best streaming option out of the bunch, with the other two offering deep league appeal.
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup against Charlotte after missing Thursday's loss to Denver due to right ankle soreness. If he remains out, Luke Kornet could draw another start after posting three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 25 minutes, offering some deep-league appeal for defensive stats. Mason Plumlee may also see limited backup minutes. Wembanyama's absence would also keep more offensive responsibility on De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, while Kornet could be a blocks streamer if he draws another start.
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (hip) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pistons have decided to hold out Harris for the second leg of this back-to-back set. His next chance to play will come against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Pistons are likely going to use a committee approach to fill the void while Harris is sidelined. That means Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland II, and Javonte Green are all candidates to see more run. Among the three players, Stewart is the best streaming choice ahead of Friday's slate.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (back) will miss Friday's matchup against New Orleans after being added to the injury report with lower back soreness. His next opportunity to return comes Monday against the Lakers. Clint Capela is expected to step into a larger role after posting nine points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block in 24 minutes last game. Capela profiles as a rebounds and blocks streamer, while Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant could absorb more offensive usage. Reed Sheppard could also benefit, though his production has dipped slightly after a strong recent stretch.
New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (illness) is ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Sochan was a late addition to the injury report and will ultimately take a seat due to a lingering illness. Normally, his status isn't noteworthy, but he was likely in line for more minutes with Josh Hart (knee) unavailable. Mohamed Diawara figures to play an expanded role, which could lead to deep league value for Friday's slate. This illness shouldn't keep Sochan out for too long, as his next chance to play will come on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors.
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (finger) is available for Friday's game against Cleveland and could see a slight uptick in minutes with P.J. Washington (ankle) sidelined, and Daniel Gafford also out for rest. Martin has held a limited role this season, averaging 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, but deeper leagues may find short-term value if his workload pushes closer to the 20-minute range. He finished with two points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 15 minutes Thursday. Marvin Bagley III and Khris Middleton remain the preferred streaming targets, leaving Martin as a deeper league flier.
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful, but now he'll officially take a seat. Hart is dealing with left knee soreness that hopefully won't keep him sidelined for long. The expectation is that Landry Shamet will start while Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara see expanded roles as well. Among the three, Clarkson is the best streaming option after posting 27 points across 26 minutes of action on Wednesday.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) will miss Friday's game against Memphis, extending his absence to five straight contests due to a right ankle sprain. His next opportunity to return comes Sunday against Toronto. With Thompson and Tobias Harris (hip) both sidelined, Detroit could lean more on Ronald Holland II, Marcus Sasser, and Kevin Huerter for extra minutes. Holland produced 15 points, three rebounds, and one steal in 25 minutes last game, while Huerter added 12 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. All three are deep-league streamers, though their roles remain shaky
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