One last "Go back in time..." question. What happened between Don Nelson and Chris Webber? I was too young to really know what went down, but a friend of mine said it was something about Webber not wanting to play center. Is that true? And was this really the catalyst that lead to our present losing circumstances (aka the Chris Webber curse)? BTW, I'm really enjoying the St. Jean threads. I find myself just lurking now, because you guys really just make it fun to read and I don't have anything to really add...but I learn. Thanks yall. Peace, D'
I don't know the details, but you know how Don Nelson gets out of control. He even reportedly called out Dallas's long time franchise player, Michael Finley. He just rubs players the wrong way I guess and the owners sided with Don Nelson.
Yea, Don's crazy. But I guess that's why he's so innovative. Like letting the little General head coach for him. Ha! I wouldn't mind having Don Nelson back though. It might make Mullin suit up and hit those shots Dunleavy ain't hitting. Would be good for an extra 15 or so.
Well.. It started out because Webber loved to shoot the ball from the outside. Every time he'd settle for a jumpshot, Nelson would bench him. This slowly turned into a tiff. Then Nelson traded Webber's buddy Billy Owens to the Heat for Rony Seikely in order to have a more well-rounded team. Tihs caused Webber to sit out, even though the Warriors had the best starting 5 in the league. For this I will never forgive him.
^Yeah, Nelly screwed up the team on his departure. Ever since Nelly's days, we haven't had a winning team
The irony of it all, is that Nelson would've made Webber into a much better player. Then Webber went to go play with his buddy Howard and a few years later forced a trade because he wanted to "go to a contender" even though he forced his way out of a team that would've been a true contender. Then last year, he did the same thing in Sacramento... when he tried to force a trade off of a contender.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CohanHater:</div><div class="quote_post">The irony of it all, is that Nelson would've made Webber into a much better player. Then Webber went to go play with his buddy Howard and a few years later forced a trade because he wanted to "go to a contender" even though he forced his way out of a team that would've been a true contender. Then last year, he did the same thing in Sacramento... when he tried to force a trade off of a contender.</div> This is all coming from a guy who, in the NCAA championship, had secured a final posession and then raced down court to call a timeout when the coach had told him earlier that there were no timeouts left. They turned the ball over into their own backcourt + technical free throw which cost Michigan the NCAA championship against UNC. Man that was classic.
This all happened about a year before Cohan bought the team. I remember hearing the Penny for Webber trade go down on KNBR, I between 6th and 7th grade. It was the greatest day of my life as a Warriors fan. After one season, where the W's made the playoffs, the front office decided to go ahead and trade the injury prone Billy Owens for a big man, plus they were getting Hardaway back from a knee injury. The starting five would have been; PG Hardaway SG Sprewell SF Mullin PF Webber C Seikaly Seikaly was a quality center for the Heat and I believe this starting 6 could have been one of the best ever. But sadly it never came through and we got Tom Gugliotta then Donyell Marshall after that. It was just downhill from there. Webber had a kickout clause in his rookie contract, that enabled him to force his trade after one year. He and Nelson never got along. What gets me is that Adelman was hired right after Nelson and Webber seems to get along with Adelman just fine now.
For you youngsters, here's the memory of someone who was at least 30 then: The reason for the tiff was there was bad feelings at the end of the '94-'95 year between Nelson and Webber. All Webber wanted Nelson to do was pick up the phone and talk about it "man to man." Nelson refused and wanted Webber to pick up the phone. Hence, standoff based on stupid things. With Webber's opportunity to opt out, the Warriors were forced to trade him for Gugs, a bona fide All-Star. Unfortunately, somebody thought Donyell was better. Had the Warriors kept Gugs, at least they would have an All-Star. Nevertheless, that team disintegrated with Billy Owens gone, Webber gone, Hardaway coming back and Sprewell pissed off. All because someone got their feelings hurt. Stupid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting philsmith75:</div><div class="quote_post"> Nevertheless, that team disintegrated with Billy Owens gone, Webber gone, Hardaway coming back and Sprewell pissed off. All because someone got their feelings hurt. Stupid.</div> ...but not as stupid as Chris Webber and that "T" and turnover in his own backcourt in the 1993 NCAA championship tournament Baziiiing!
