Al Harrington: I Had To Make A Move Before I Did Something I Would Regret
August 5, 2009 – 8:30 am by Tas MelasAl Harrington joined former NBA player Tom Tolbert on KNBR to discuss his much publicized fallout with his former coach Don Nelson in Golden State. The relationship got so bad that Harrington requested to be moved, a very similar scenario to what happened this season in G-State with Jamal Crawford. To my knowledge, Jamal didn’t demand a trade, but much like big Al, he fell out of favor with Nelson and started missing games. Don Nelson is old school; he’s not a newer age coach who is positive no matter what the situation. He calls people names, he yells at them, he knocks them down a peg. Some people don’t handle that well and find it difficult to bounce back from the demoralizing comments. Nelson doesn’t cater his coaching style to his players’ individual needs – and that is likely what led Harrington out of California. His take on what forced the trade to New York is below.
On why he left Golden State:
“Don Nelson, man. Don Nelson.”
On whether or not his limited role was what made him want out:
“That had a little bit to do with it but it came down to a respect thing. I just didn’t feel like coach respected me as a man and I just felt like I had to make a move before I did something that I would regret. I was just happy that I was able to get out of that situation.”
On if it was the way Nelson treated him in front of his ‘mates, the words he used, etcetera, that was what really got under his skin:
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
Did you ever try and smooth it over at any point?
“We had a pow-wow, but obviously it didn’t work and you know, God bless him. I’m just so happy I’m out of that situation you all can’t believe it.”
It seemed like it was all going well in the playoffs in ‘07 when you knocked off the Mavs.
“That’s when me and him kinda started to have our problems, in the playoffs a little bit. And, then it manifested in to the next year, and then the third year we tried to clean it up a little bit, but it was just too much, I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
Listen to Al Harrington on KNBR with Tom Tolbert
Tags: Al Harrington, Basketball, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, NBA
19 Responses to “Al Harrington: I Had To Make A Move Before I Did Something I Would Regret”
What a joke. Harrington was a black hole with a terrible attitude and the Warriors were better off without him. Prima Donnas like Harrington come right out of high school into the league after being coddled by coaches since elementary school. When they run into a coach that doesn’t treat them like the second coming of Jesus, all they can do is whine and complain. Good riddance.
By Mike on Aug 5, 2009
Mike, following your logic, you would refuse to have:
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
LeBron James
Dwight Howard
Shawn Kemp in his prime
Jermaine O’Neal in his prime
Moses Malone
Rashard Lewis
Tracy McGrady
Amare Stoudemire
among many others on your team?
Because they are Prima Donnas who came straight out of high school…
By Mike's an Idiot on Aug 5, 2009
Former Warriors season ticket-holder. Nelson is the fraud here. He’s not “old school,” he’s a weasel who’ll throw his own guys under the bus whenever it suits him. Just think of the worst boss you’ve ever had, when you couldn’t trust your coworkers and you never knew what the company wanted from you and your boss went out of his way to humiliate you. That’s how the entire Warriors team is run, near as I could tell.
By matt on Aug 5, 2009
Not to defend Mike but…
…to “Mike’s an Idiot”:
If Harrington played anywhere like the High School players on your list, then yes, Harrington should’ve been coddled like a prima donna. But Harrington isn’t anywhere near any of these players (and the closest he gets to is Jermaine ONeal).
Not all HS players develop. Most fail — look at Qyntel Woods.
And Harrington is a veteran and should be able to take criticism now.
Compare Harrington to Anthony Randolph. Randolph got ragged on by Nellie too. Did Randolph give up and want to leave? No. He had issues with Nellie, then changed his way and worked hard. Now Randolph is ready to break out.
If you don’t have the fortitude to deal with a critical coach, you don’t belong in the NBA. Don’t give me this line about having to deal with very difficult bosses. NBA players get millions …AND… they usually win if there is a choice between players and coaches (it’s easier to get a coach than an NBA player). It’s just the opposite with normal people.
By Not to defend Mike on Aug 5, 2009
I’m sorry. Right now, I’m not the biggest fan of Nellie, but really, Al Harrington is an idiot. It’s clear every second he’s on the floor. Good riddance. (Now if we could only get rid of Nellie, and Chris Cohan for that matter.)
By peterme on Aug 5, 2009
I hear you, Mike. While your detractor has a list of folks who came out of h/s & did good, there is a longer list of “entitled” h/s busts:
Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, CJ Miles, Gerald Greene, Robert Swift, &c. Not to mention that Amare, Jermaine, and Kemp didn’t have as many negatives as positives. Al is a guy who plays well when he is happy, and not when he isn’t. CWebb is an example of a player who got over that.
As far as Nelson, he isn’t percieved as trustworthy by the Bay Area fans and media. And he insists on being the boss, he’s not a collaberator. But consensus for the real problem with the Dubs is the owner. Ever since he got caught cheating the IRS he’s been milking the team for cash. He still needs to sell tix, but he’s slashing expenses. Bellinelli for Devean George’s 1-year contract (plus enough cash to pay George) are typical…
By Marko on Aug 5, 2009
i hate all harington
By John on Aug 5, 2009
So, Nellie didn’t like Harrington because he is a “black hole” and a “primadonna”?
If that’s the case why is Stephen Jackson a starter and captain? Obviously, there is more to the story. Granted Harrington’s year in New York had its ups and downs but I can’t say the guy has a terrible attitude.
By Huh? on Aug 5, 2009
CJ Miles a bust? Not a star, but how many 2nd round draft picks are stars? I do not think he was touted as the next big thing either. Should he have gone to college? Maybe, but he took a non guaranteed contract, made the team and has parlayed that into new contract making #3.7mm/yr gtd.
Ask him if that makes him a bust.
By Dallas Fan on Aug 5, 2009
maybe i wasn’t clear enough, nowhere did i say that all players who come right out of high school to the nba are prima donnas, that wasn’t at all what i meant. who in their right mind would compare everyone on that list to al freakin’ harrington?
to summarize
bad: prima donnas (i.e Harrington, Starbury, Kwame Brown etc.), high school or 4 years of college
not the issue: players coming right out of high school
By Mike on Aug 5, 2009
Nellie’s career winning percentage with the Warriors is .506. Clearly deserves full power.
By Chris Cohan on Aug 5, 2009
High school players that went straight to the NBA are much much more successful than those that attended 4 years of college. I’d much rather take my chances at a Lebron James than a Shane Battier.
By Shawn on Aug 5, 2009
why do i have to be all those names… when i played in g.s. i always played hard and respected the game…. and loved the fans… the guy that hates me shud learn how to spell… its AL Harrington… and that so mean to say…. be easy….. love is love
By al harrington on Aug 6, 2009
the nba is full of giant egos. you need one to be an nba player. yo need one to be a coach. when those egos clash, there is almost nothing you can do to avoid a falling out. the biggest punk in the dubs organization is that Rowell guy. he basically engineered the mully (our best front office guy) exit, and cohan is the next one to blame. i am a fan for life, but we might as well have isiah thomas in our front office. we are lucky to have the players we do have.
By victor on Aug 6, 2009
oh yeah, Al, if you read this one, i thought you were a beast and it was wack to see you go….
By victor on Aug 6, 2009
From my perspective. No veteran stars want to play for the Warriors because of the way they treated Al Harrington, Jamal Crawford, Monte Ellis, Chris Mullin. So they are seen by the veterans as a joke
By the showing of top rookies NOT wanting to work out for the Warriors (including Steph Curry) in hopes the Warriors don’t draft them…the Warriors are seen as a joke by the incoming draft hopefuls.
And by the way the “We Believe” die hard fans are giving up on the Warriors, the front office is seen as a joke by their fans.
Do the Warriors have talent? Hell yeah. With Ellis, Randolph, Morrow, Biedrins, Buike, Wright and Curry, they are young and talented. Get rid of the bog salary veterans that are just going to eat away minutes from the young guys maturation process. Or worse case, ice them out like Nellie did to Big Al and Jamal (and for most of the season Randolph.
Don’t let them learn bad habits like whining and pouting when you don’t get a call and let your teammates play 4 on 5 while you sit on the offensive end of the court glaring at the officials who didn’t make a call.
Nellie is the problem…not the only problem, but the main one. Once the ownership changes, and a new group cleans house and gets rid of all upper management, then the Warrior organization might be looked at as a respectable organization. No matter how much money they have to spend, no star player in his right mind would want to play for Nelson/Riley/Rowell/Cohan.
By in the dumps on Aug 6, 2009
CJ miles is not a bust.. anyone who can take a starters job is very talented.. he took AK’s spot and he’s been there for years.
don’t put him in a list with Kwame.. Kwame is in a list of his own lol.
Jermaine o’neal is still way good and can be dominate if he wants to and stays injury free. he’s brittle along with cwebb, yao, mcgrady, arenas, boozer and grant hill..
As for al harrington.. read phil jacksons last book. it explains how Don Nelson’s can becomes a negative impact. his last year as a maverick coach, players responded better to avery johnson. That says alot about Nelson’s methods.
players want to be lifted.. look at Shaq! coaches made him feel like a god and he plays better that way. his final year at miami he played lazy because he was sick of Pat Riley.
you know your a great player when you have a shoe deal.. even if it only sales at K Mart Lol.
By LAKERS!! on Aug 6, 2009
i do get that vibe from nelson he just will not play guys for the sake of it i thought anthony randolph deserved alot more minutes last season
al seemed like a perfect fit for that system big guy who cane score from anywhere and run the floor .
with a really young and talented team i think they should get rid of nelson get a young coach
By jeremy on Aug 6, 2009
don’t forget baby Jordan! Harold Miner!
By roman on Aug 7, 2009