Warriors Nellie Night brought several generations of Golden State basketball together at Chase Center on Oct. 6, as the franchise honored former coach Don Nelson before a 124-98 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The ceremony connected Nelson’s Run TMC years, the 2007 “We Believe” team and Stephen Curry’s arrival in Golden State.
Key Takeaways
- Golden State defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 124-98 during “Nellie Night” at Chase Center on Oct. 6
- Don Nelson coached the Warriors for 11 seasons across two separate stints and finished his NBA coaching career with 1,335 regular-season victories
- Stephen Curry played his 2009-10 rookie season under Nelson and spoke during the pregame tribute
- Former Warriors Chris Mullin, Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes were among those who participated in the event
- Golden State debuted a yellow “Nellie” memorial patch that the team plans to wear throughout the 2026-27 season
Warriors Nellie Night gave Golden State an opportunity to connect its current San Francisco chapter with basketball history created largely across the Bay in Oakland.
Before Tuesday’s preseason game, Curry addressed the Chase Center crowd as the Warriors recognized Nelson, who died Aug. 9 at age 86. Nelson spent 11 seasons as Golden State’s head coach across two stints, from 1988 to 1995 and again from 2006 to 2010.
His 1,335 regular-season coaching victories rank second in NBA history.
The evening carried an additional connection for Curry. Golden State selected him seventh overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, making his rookie campaign Nelson’s final season as an NBA head coach.
Curry previously described Nelson’s role in his arrival with the Warriors in unusually direct terms.
“One of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson,” Curry said in a statement released after Nelson’s death.
The connection placed one of the defining players of Golden State’s current era alongside a coach whose influence stretched across several earlier versions of the franchise.
Warriors Nellie Night Connects Run TMC and We Believe
Don Nelson’s first Golden State tenure became closely associated with Run TMC, the high-scoring trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.
Those Warriors developed a reputation for playing at speed and using lineups that differed from the larger, more traditional configurations common around the NBA at the time. Nelson’s approach frequently emphasized versatile personnel and offensive flexibility.
Mullin returned for Tuesday’s tribute, representing one of the most recognizable periods from Nelson’s first run with Golden State.
Nelson’s second stint produced another major chapter in the franchise’s Bay Area history.
The 2006-07 Warriors reached the playoffs as the Western Conference’s eighth seed before defeating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the opening round. The team became widely known as the “We Believe” Warriors.
Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, both members of that team, were among the former players present at Chase Center for Nellie Night.
Bringing those figures into the Warriors’ current San Francisco arena placed multiple generations of the organization in the same setting. Similar Bay Area sports events have also demonstrated how major teams and competitions can create connections that extend across individual cities within the region.
For Golden State, that regional connection is particularly visible. Much of Nelson’s Warriors history was created at the Oakland Coliseum Arena and later Oracle Arena. The franchise moved its home games to Chase Center in San Francisco in 2019.
Tuesday’s ceremony carried that history into the team’s current home rather than treating the Oakland and San Francisco periods as separate chapters.
Curry and the Nellie Patch Extend the Tribute Into the New Season
Golden State used several elements to carry Nelson’s presence beyond the pregame ceremony.
The Warriors introduced a yellow “Nellie” patch on their uniforms and plan to wear it throughout the 2026-27 season. Fans at the game also received commemorative pins.
Visual artist Samantha Woj unveiled a portrait of Nelson during the event. Woj, who creates artwork using sports equipment, produced the piece with a basketball.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr added another reference to Nelson during his pregame media availability by opening a beer in tribute to the former coach, who became associated with similar postgame moments during the 2007 playoff run.
The details reinforced the broader purpose of Warriors Nellie Night. The franchise was marking Nelson’s coaching record while also emphasizing his direct links to players and teams remembered across different periods of Bay Area basketball.
That kind of connection between sports, venues and regional identity remains a visible part of the Bay Area’s event calendar. Large-scale competitions have also shaped Bay Area sports culture beyond the boundaries of a single city.
For the Warriors, the season-long patch means the tribute will continue after the dedicated ceremony. Nelson’s name will remain on the uniform as Golden State moves through the new season.
Golden State Adds a 124-98 Win to the Tribute
The basketball on the floor gave the night a current storyline.
Golden State defeated Los Angeles 124-98 to move to 1-1 in the preseason. Curry scored 16 points and added five assists in 14 minutes.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds while shooting 7-for-11 from the field.
The Warriors scored 81 points during the first half, creating an offensive backdrop that fit the evening’s focus on Nelson and teams historically associated with high-tempo basketball.
The preseason result carries limited significance compared with regular-season games, but it provided another connection between Golden State’s past and present. Curry, the player Nelson coached during his final NBA season, shared the floor with a new generation of Warriors during a night built around that continuity.
The ceremony also illustrated the unusual span of Nelson’s association with the franchise.
Run TMC emerged during his first Warriors tenure. The “We Believe” playoff run came during his second. Curry arrived during Nelson’s final season.
Those periods unfolded decades apart, yet all three were represented at Chase Center on Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Warriors Nellie Night?
Warriors Nellie Night was Golden State’s Oct. 6 tribute to former head coach Don Nelson at Chase Center. The ceremony took place before and during the Warriors’ 124-98 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Why did the Warriors honor Don Nelson?
Nelson coached Golden State for 11 seasons across two stints and was associated with the Run TMC era and the 2007 “We Believe” playoff team. He finished his NBA coaching career with 1,335 regular-season victories, second on the league’s all-time list.
What is the Nellie patch on Warriors uniforms?
Golden State debuted a yellow “Nellie” memorial patch during the tribute game. The Warriors have said the patch will remain on their jerseys throughout the 2026-27 season.
Did Stephen Curry play for Don Nelson?
Yes. Nelson coached Curry during his rookie season in 2009-10 after Golden State selected Curry with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. It was also Nelson’s final season as an NBA head coach.
Which former Warriors attended Nellie Night?
Chris Mullin, Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes were among the former Warriors involved in the Chase Center tribute. Their appearances represented different periods of Nelson’s tenure and helped connect multiple eras of Golden State basketball.
