Don Nelson earns lifetime achievement award, rips Mavericks
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."
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On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Brooks Barnhizer logged 19 points (8-of-12 on field goals, 3-of-6 on free throws), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks during a 95-81 Summer League win over New Orleans Pelicans. The 23-year-old had a team-high nine boards and 19 points across 24 minutes. Drafted 44th in the NBA Draft last month, Barnhizer has impressed at Summer League, posting averages of 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 25.3 minutes over the previous four contests in Vegas.
Utah Jazz guardIsaiah Colliercollected 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals across 32 minutes in a 86-76 Summer League win over the Wizards on Wednesday. Collier continues to produce during Summer League as he posted a double-double in Monday's matchup against the Spurs. The 29th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will look to battle for an expanded role on a young Jazz team after averaging 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists across 71 contests during the 2024-25 campaign.
According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, free agent guard/forward Caleb Houstan and the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday. Houstan landed on the open market after the Magic declined his team option. Last season, the 22-year-old averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest across 58 games. After the All-Star break, he shot 50.7 percent from beyond the arc. He could grab a regular role at the bottom of the Hawks' rotation, but he will likely not make an impact in fantasy during the upcoming season.
Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson finished with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes in an 86-76 Summer League loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Johnson has strung together two impressive outings after collecting 20 points during Tuesday's Summer League action against the 76ers. This upcoming NBA season will be Johnson's second, and at 20 years old, he will likely struggle to establish a regular spot in the Wizards' rotation.
Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals in over 33 minutes in an 86-76 win over the Jazz during Summer League action on Wednesday. Black's 11 rebounds and four blocks were game highs in the contest. Despite a solid Summer League outing, the 26-year-old is not a player that should be on fantasy managers' radar. He hasn't played in an NBA game since the 2023-24 regular season.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Johni Broome posted a second consecutive double-double in the Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday, racking up 22 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in a 90-82 triumph against the Dallas Mavericks. The second-round pick from Auburn was a bit quiet in his first few Summer League outings, but he has now demonstrated his full potential in the past two games. By picking up Broome, Philadelphia has boosted its frontcourt depth behind the injury-prone Joel Embiid, and he could become a valuable contributor for the team.
Chicago Bulls guard Jahmir Young put on a show in Wednesday's Summer League clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 40 points on 13-for-18 shooting in a 102-96 victory. It marks the most points ever a Bulls player has scored in the Summer League, and it's also the highest scoring tally during this year's tournament in Las Vegas. Young was unconscious from downtown, going 7-for-8, and finished 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His work included one rebound, three assists, and two steals. As an undrafted rookie, Young made only five appearances for the Bulls last season, but he could be in line for more work in 2025-26 since the Bulls' backcourt is now a bit thinner following Lonzo Ball's departure.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor scored a whopping 40 percent of his team's points in Wednesday's Summer League encounter with the Sacramento Kings, finishing a 94-86 loss with 35 points on 11-for-24 shooting. Proctor's efficiency wasn't great, but he went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and dropped four three-point bombs with 11 attempts. The 21-year-old from Australia wrapped things up with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Across his previous three Summer League outings, Proctor had managed only 34 total points. This was an impressive effort from the Duke product, but we will probably see only glimpses of him in the stacked Cavaliers backcourt during the 2025-26 regular season.
Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams posted a team-high 23 points in Wednesday's 86-76 Summer League victory against the Washington Wizards, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown. He also did his part defensively by picking up a pair of steals and finished his line with two rebounds and two assists. Williams had a slow start to Summer League action in Salt Lake City, averaging 11.7 points, but he's been sharp with his play in Las Vegas. With four games played, Williams has notched 20-plus points three times. The 20-year-old is working hard to prove himself enough to secure a regular spot in the Jazz rotation for his sophomore season.
According to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavericks aren't interested in "gutting its roster" in a deal for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (knee). It was reported that the multi-time All-Star hasn't had discussions with the Lakers involving a trade. However, James' no-trade clause, age, and $52.6 million salary are barriers preventing teams, not just the Mavericks, from engaging in meaningful discussions about a potential deal. The 40-year-old is still playing at an exceptional level, most recently finishing the 2024 campaign by averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 70 contests. Of course, there will be more updates and rumors regarding James and his future moving ahead. With that in mind, he should continue to provide consistent fantasy production, assuming he stays healthy, no matter where he suits up before calling it a career.
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (finger) underwent a procedure on his right ring finger. He sustained the injury during the postseason. Fortunately, the 30-year-old is expected to resume basketball activities "later in the summer." Even better, he's not projected to miss any time to begin the 2025 campaign. Hart is coming off another quality year, finishing the 2024 season by averaging 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. He's also one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association, logging 234 games in the last three seasons. Hart is always a triple-double threat whenever he's on the floor. His willingness to play through injuries is an added bonus for fantasy managers. While his shooting percentages could improve, his contributions in the other statistical categories gives him plenty of value from a fantasy standpoint.
On Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports that three-time NBA All-Star guardBradley Beal agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers. Beal provides the Clippers with another offensive threat after Norman Powell was traded earlier in the month. Fantasy managers should be aware that Beal's minutes will likely be reduced since the Clippers' offensive attack revolves primarily around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Portland Trail Blazers guardRayan Rupert logged 24 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in 28 minutes during Tuesday's 93-87 Summer League victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Rupert posted a game-high in points and three-pointers, shooting 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Last season, the 21-year-old averaged 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 8.8 minutes per game across 52 contests. He posted some strong outings towards the end of last season, so he may get a bigger role in 2025-26. However, Rupert isn't someone worth looking at in fantasy leagues.
Memphis Grizzlies forwardGG Jackson II finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 26 minutes during a 96-84 Summer League loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday after sitting out Saturday's game due to an illness. The 20-year-old missed the first half of the 2024-25 campaign due to a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot and was limited to just 29 regular-season appearances. After several impressive Summer League outings, Jackson could see an uptick in minutes, providing the Grizzlies with an offensive threat off the bench during the upcoming 2025-26 season.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers center Johni Broome finished with a double-double in a 74-58 Summer League win over the Wizards. During the contest, Broome logged 14 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal in 29 minutes. He was selected by the 76ers with the 35th pick in the 2025 NBA draft after a standout season at Auburn, where he averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks across 36 appearances. Barring any injuries with a crowded 76ers frontcourt, Broome will likely find himself out of the rotation or in the G League to start the upcoming campaign.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter made big plays at both ends in Tuesday's 101-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the Las Vegas Summer League, leading all scorers with 26 points and snagging a game-high seven steals. Following a couple of rough shooting performances in Vegas, Walter finished a solid 8-for-16 from the field. He was 4-for-11 with the three-ball and shot 6-for-7 at the line, wrapping up his day at the office with four rebounds and one block. The Raptors saw a few encouraging performances from Walter last season, but he needs to stay healthy to establish himself in the rotation. The 20-year-old missed the start of his rookie campaign due to a shoulder injury and made just 52 appearances in total.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell played a leading role in Tuesday's 92-75 Summer League victory over the Orlando Magic, recording a game-high 27 points with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. Mitchell had a hot hand throughout the game, shooting 9-for-13 from the field, including 1-for-2 from outside, and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line. The 23-year-old looked promising during his debut campaign in the NBA, but a toe injury interrupted Mitchell's 2024-25 campaign. He's now making up for lost time in the Summer League, having already made six appearances. In Las Vegas, Mitchell has averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard VJ Edgecombe made his Las Vegas Summer League debut in Tuesday's matchup against the Washington Wizards, filling the box score in a blowout win. He notched 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes on the floor. Edgecombe missed Philadelphia's first two games in Las Vegas due to a left thumb sprain suffered during a Summer League contest in Salt Lake City on July 5. The 19-year-old Baylor product can be happy with his production on Tuesday, although Edgecombe was inefficient with his scoring, going 4-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-6 from downtown. All of his points came in the second half. Philadelphia faces the Dallas Mavericks in another Summer League contest on Wednesday, but it's uncertain if Edgecombe will play.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow has been shut down for the remainder of the Summer League, per Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com. After signing a two-way contract with the 76ers, Barlow suited up twice for the team in Las Vegas. He notched 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 22.1 minutes. In 96 career NBA games, Barlow has averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.5 minutes. He's been trying to find his footing in the league with the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks. While his playing time in Philadelphia isn't guaranteed either, at just 22 years old, Barlow still has plenty of time to grow and improve his game.
