SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors were celebrating Don Nelson with “Nellie Night” when they hosted the Lakers on Tuesday at Chase Center.
And Warriors coach Steve Kerr had the perfect way to honor the late Hall of Fame coach.
Kerr cracked open a can of Bud Light and took a sip of the beer before answering questions from reporters during his pregame media availability – a nod to Nelson bringing a can of Bud Light to his postgame media availability during the Warriors’ 2007 playoff run more than once.
Nelson’s postgame beer in the interview room didn’t last long after the eighth-seeded Warriors, who adopted the “We Believe” moniker, upset the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
The NBA stepped in and told the Warriors that Nelson couldn’t bring beer in the postgame interview room.
The league doesn’t have to worry about Kerr making it a habit.
“Definitley not,” the Warriors coach responded when asked whether he was going to fish the beer. “I got a game to coach.”
Former Warriors players, including Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes and Chris Mullin, and members of Nelson’s family were in attendance for Tuesday’s game.
Fans received a commemorative “Nellie” pin upon entry, in addition to souvenir “Nellie Night” beer koozies being sold.
The Warriors are wearing a “Nellie” band on the team’s uniforms throughout the 2026-27 season.
Nelson, who was the Warriors head coach for 11 seasons across two stints (1988-95 and 2006-10), died on Aug. 9 at the age of 86.
