After one of the finest classes ever was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, there was only one question to ask:
Where's Nellie?
Michael Jordan headlined the distinguished class that included John Stockton, David Robinson and coaches Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer.
It's Sloan's presence that sparks intrigue. Not that he doesn't deserve it. He absolutely does. In a business where you are not supposed to have favorites, the Utah coach has always been one of mine. Great dude. Super coach.
But if Sloan is in Springfield, Mass., why in the world is Don Nelson not?
Nelson is second in NBA history with 1,309 coaching victories. If his Golden State Warriors win 24 games this season, he'll pass Lenny Wilkens for No. 1. He is the only coach among the top six in wins not in the Hall of Fame.
That's an outrage.
Sloan is No. 4 on the all-time wins list with 1,137. Like Nelson, Sloan has never coached an NBA champion.
But the body of work is undeniable for both coaches. The bottom line is that with Sloan joining Wilkens, Pat Riley, Larry Brown and Phil Jackson in the hall, Nelson has to be there with them.
Don Nelson deserves a place in Hall of Fame
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