# Don Nelson Joined Celtics for $1,000 Cash — Bob Ryan Reveals All 😳

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/don-nelson-joined-celtics-for-1-000-cash-bob-ryan-reveals-all
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/don-nelson-joined-celtics-for-1-000-cash-bob-ryan-reveals-all.md
Podcast: [NBA History Story Tellers on CLNS](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520)
Published: 2026-08-14T19:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM5369205665.mp3
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM5369205665.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/episodes/don-nelson-joined-celtics-for-1-000-cash-bob-ryan-reveals-all
Duration seconds: 1666

## Resource

Don Nelson has passed away at 86. Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay spend this episode remembering the real Nelly — not just the Hall of Fame coach, but the Celtic most people under 60 never saw play. The story nobody knows: Nelson became a Celtic for $1,000 cash because rival Tom Heinsohn personally told Red Auerbach to go get him. 0:00 — Why Tom Heinsohn told Red to sign Don Nelson 1:05 — Nelson’s early career and the Havlicek birthday coincidence 4:36 — His playing days at Iowa and a rough stretch with the Lakers 5:23 — Signed to the Celtics for $1,000 cash 6:45 — Heinsohn’s go-to clutch play was always for Nelson 8:38 — The legendary Game 7 shot off the back of the rim 11:37 — PrizePicks 12:41 — The bar debate that ended with broken glasses 14:04 — Bill Russell called him “the ultimate Celtic” 14:31 — Retiring to Maui, and a famous marijuana patch 17:34 — The 1983 friction with Red Auerbach as a coach 20:19 — Building Run TMC and drafting Nowitzki and Nash in one night 24:44 — Bob Ryan’s personal story: the 10,000-point favor NBA History on CLNS Media is Powered by 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 in lineups instantly if you win your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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