If there is a story tailor-made for our Freaky Friday, it is probably this one. It has an NBA legend, poker, celebrities, Hawaii, and a game that didn’t even stop when one of its participants died. Its protagonist is Don Nelson
“Nellie” coached for 31 seasons in the NBA between 1976 and 2010 and ended his career with 1,335 wins, the second highest number in league history. As a player, he had won five championships with the Boston Celtics and was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
A game with death included
After retiring, he settled in Hawaii, where his private poker games became famous. Names like musician Willie Nelson
But no session was as strange as the one in which one of the regulars, Greg Booth
End of the game? Not at all.
Nelson Was Part Of Five NBA Championship Teams With Boston Between 1966 And 1976, And The Celtics Retired His Number 19 Jersey.
Nelson said in a 2023 interview with Rick Quan
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“I told the guys that Greg would want them to keep playing,” Nellie recalled, describing his friend as someone who enjoyed life to the fullest.
What happened next elevated the story to legend status. While waiting for the body to be removed, they placed Booth on the porch. Before that, each player put a $20 chip in his pocket.
And they kept playing.
The recognition of a legend
After Nelson’s death became known, legendary professional player Erik Seidel
Seidel said he was on vacation with his family in Hawaii when he casually met Nelson at an ice cream shop. Without recognizing him as a poker star, Nellie was extremely kind to them and ended up inviting them to see the poker room he had in his own house.
“RIP Legend,” Seidel wrote in saying goodbye, remembering that Nelson was simply being friendly to complete strangers.
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