Where’s “We Believe” Now: Front Office and Coaching

As we reminisce on the Golden State Warriors’ history, we will take a look at the “We Believe” team of 2006-2007 and re-connect with its members today. 

2006-07 was a magical season for Dub Nation and the Golden State Warriors.

We all know what happened: The Warriors made a blockbuster trade with the Pacers, and then Don Nelson let Baron Davis and the Dubs put up 140 points a night and race to the eighth seed in the Western Conference, where they defeated the 67-win Dallas Mavericks in a historic upset. 

Today, we are going to talk about the coaching staff and the front office of the team. The team was led by legendary coach Don Nelson, who had multiple stretches at the helm for the Warriors. Nelson notably led the Run TMC Warriors, and is the winningest coach in NBA history.

In the front office, they were run by Warriors legend Chris Mullin, who also served as Vice President of the team.

The front office was never considered anything special, and many of the moves they made were not all that impressive. For example, they drafted center Patrick O’Bryant with the ninth overall selection in the draft leading up to the 2007 season. However, the front office did make one notable trade that will always be renowned in Warriors history.

In January 2007, the Warriors traded swingman Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy, among others, to the Indiana Pacers for forwards Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson. The teams involved in this trade were both struggling, and all of the players could have needed a change of scenery. Harrington could not gel with frontcourt mate Jermaine O’Neal in Indiana, and the two had noticeable tension on the court that served neither well. Jackson, on the other hand, was battling personal issues with the Pacers, and a change was needed in his life. 

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Both players benefited heavily from their move to Oakland, as did the Dubs.

So, where are Mullin and Nelson now?

Mullin left the Warriors in 2009, when his contract was not renewed. Mullin quickly joined ESPN as an analyst and served on the popular program NBA Countdown. After the 2012 season, Mullin became a part of the Sacramento Kings organization as a director of college scouting and an advisor to the front office on player transactions. Mullin was a large part of why the Kings drafted point guard Nik Stauskas. This summer, Mullin accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater St. John’s University, where he hopes he can return the program to its former glory.

As for Nelson, he has been very quiet since he left the Warriors. He was linked to a few coaching jobs and player personnel positions, but he has declined all offers, and he seems very content with living in his Maui house with his wife. Nelson is enjoying the well-earned fruits of his labor.

Nelson and Mullin never had another season quite like the 2007 one as they continued their careers, and I am sure that they remember it as fondly as Dub Nation does.