The New York Knicks didn't like Don Nelson, didn't agree with his preferred style of play and didn't respect his work ethic. When he was fired, they were elated.
Nelson spoke about it all Monday for the first time since he was fired four days earlier. Rather than rip the players, though, he agreed with the move."It's nobody's fault other my own. When I look back at everything, it may be as simple as I was the wrong guy for the job. I don't disagree with that," Nelson said.
"I also agree 100 percent with their decision to make the move early if they were not going to keep me next year. The team has a chance to regroup, gets its energy back, get its passion back."
Nelson, who was fired last season by the Golden State Warriors after feuding with his players, lasted just 59 games with the Knicks. He said he is unsure whether he'll retire.
"Evidently I don't deal as well as I should with the modern-day player. I'm from the old school. Today's players worry about statistics, but the only statistic that matters is winning, and I wish I could convince the modern-day ballplayer of that."
"I always told my players that when things go wrong, the first place to look is in the mirror. That's the first place I looked when I was released from my job.
"I have to decide why I've been fired twice now in two years and what I'm doing wrong. What changes do I need to make as a coach and a person to get modern-day players to work hard and play consistently for me. That's exactly what I'm trying to decide now in my own mind."
New York was 4-9 after the All-Star break and is 1-1 since Jeff Van Gundy replaced Nelson, including a 104-72 victory Sunday over the Chicago Bulls.
"If I was coaching yesterday's game, I don't think we would have won," Nelson said.
Overall, the former coach was candid and contrite as he spoke for approximately 30 minutes at a Manhattan restaurant.
He said he was in favor of trading guard John Starks to the San Antonio Spurs for Vinny Del Negro - "it was a no-brainer" - and felt Patrick Ewing "needs to be the second-best player on the team. I don't think he can physically carry the team anymore."
Responding to criticism of his short practices, he explained that he thought an older team like the Knicks needed more rest than practice.
"I played for many, many years, and I don't know many veterans who want three-hour practices or could physically do them and play a lot of minutes in the pros. But (the Knicks) weren't used to that and there was some criticism on that.
"It's ironic that in the Golden State area I was accused of being too tough and the practices being too hard, and here they were too easy and I was too easy. Somewhere in between, I suppose, was the right way."
Nelson preferred a fast-breaking, wide-open style of play, but the Knicks were unhappy with it.
"I've always been a very flexible coach, I like to do some unconventional things and they've been very successful over the years. That was the wrong approach with this team. This was an inflexible team, very traditional team that was set in its ways.
"I've never been around players who didn't want to run and score. This was a first for me. They've been successful with a half-court, slowdown game. When I suggested otherwise, they resisted it."
Nelson said "relieved" wasn't the right word, but he wasn't unhappy about being fired.
"The last few days have been very difficult for me. I'm not that bad of a person. I did the best job I could and I did it in a way that I thought was the right way. I've learned a lot. I hope I'll be a better person because of it."