Jason Terry said Don Nelson played a defining role in his career by restoring his enjoyment of basketball after five losing seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. Terry, who later became an NBA champion and Sixth Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks, reflected on Nelson following the Hall of Fame coach’s death at 86.
“Don Nelson was my first coach in Dallas when I arrived in 2004,” Terry told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “And when I tell you, the joy of basketball–coming from Atlanta where I was drafted in ’99, played for five years, and didn’t… didn’t win, right? I started to lose the love for the game because of the losing.”
Terry was selected 10th overall by Atlanta in the 1999 NBA Draft and spent his first five seasons with the Hawks. Atlanta never reached the playoffs during Terry’s tenure, posting losing records in each of those five seasons before trading him to Dallas in 2004.
Nelson was the Mavericks’ head coach when Terry arrived in Dallas. Terry said Nelson’s impact went beyond his tactical approach and helped change his relationship with the game.
“Not only was it how Don coached and ran the team, but it was more of the person he was and our interaction off the court which really gave me that love,” Terry said.
Nelson coached 31 NBA seasons and finished his career with 1,335 regular-season victories. He won NBA Coach of the Year three times and became closely associated with small-ball lineups, spacing and matchup-based offensive concepts.
Terry became an important part of Dallas’ success after joining the franchise. He won the 2009 Sixth Man of the Year award and was a key contributor to the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team.
Terry also credited his time in Dallas for giving him a lasting connection to the community. He said having his children and granddaughter in the Dallas area and continuing to run his girls’ basketball program there have made the city his “second home.”
Today, Terry is passing lessons from his playing career to younger players as an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. He has focused on player development and helping young players understand their roles, responsibilities and the broader details of NBA basketball.
One player Terry has followed closely is Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, whom he first watched during his high school career in Seattle. Terry described Eason as a defensive-minded connector who is developing his offensive game and can build a long NBA career.
Terry is also working with Jazz young cornerstone Ace Bailey. He said Bailey’s first season showed a clear progression as he learned the game and earned additional responsibility.
“He’s one of those quick learners,” Terry said. “He’s a hard worker and he’s another guy that just brings life to your gym.”
