Saying the Time Is Right, Nelson Leaves Coaching

Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, resigned as coach of the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday and turned the team over to protege Avery Johnson.

“I see a little slippage as a team,” Nelson said. “The team is just responding better to Avery at this point.”

Nelson, 64, also had the title of general manager. He will stay with the team as a consultant.

“Nellie has earned the right to approach this any way he wants,” owner Mark Cuban said. “I just wanted to be supportive of any direction he wants to go.”

Nelson, who never won a championship or reached the NBA Finals as a coach, leaves with a career record of 1,190-880 over 27 seasons, including stints with Milwaukee, Golden State and the New York Knicks. Only Lenny Wilkens has won more games as a coach -- 1,332.

“I’ve worked as hard as anyone, and it hasn’t happened,” Nelson said of never winning a title. “That’s just the way it is.”

Nelson went 339-251 in Dallas, tops in franchise history both in wins and winning percentage.

“I just think it’s time,” Nelson said, showing little emotion. “We want to win games and we want to get better, and I didn’t see us doing either of the above since the All-Star game.”

Dallas is 43-22 but is only 8-6 since the All-Star break.

Before Nelson’s decision, Johnson had coached the team for 13 games this season, going 9-4 while Nelson recovered from shoulder surgery and attended to his wife after surgery.

Dallas is the eighth team to experience a coaching change this season, following the Lakers, Memphis, New York, Denver, Minnesota, Portland and Orlando.

*

Orlando guard Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the NBA for kicking a courtside photographer in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s loss in Seattle on Friday night.

The NBA will investigate further before determining the length of the suspension. Former Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman was suspended for 11 games and fined $25,000 for kicking a cameraman on Jan. 17, 1997.

Francis denied kicking the man.