Nelson Denies Jackson's Claim He'll Retire After This Season

DENVER -- Stephen Jackson believes Don Nelson will retire after this season.

Nelson disagrees, saying he will retire after next season when his contract runs out.

"After Coach Nelson gets his record, he's going to hang it up,'' Jackson, a Charlotte guard, said in an interview Monday with FanHouse about his former coach at Golden State who is soon to break the NBA record for career coaching wins. "I just know that he's going to the (Warriors) office and pass the reins to (assistant coach) Keith Smart.''

Jackson, speaking before facing Denver at the Pepsi Center, claims to know this because "they were talking about that when I was there'' regarding Nelson retiring after this season. Jackson, who was dealt last November from the Warriors to the Bobcats after playing under Nelson since January 2007, wouldn't specify individuals who said that.

Nelson begged to differ.

"I'm going to coach until my contract is up next year,'' Nelson said in a phone interview. "Ask Jack if he's going to leave with one year left on his contract. ... I'm going to honor my contract next year and then that will be it.''

Nelson, 69, has a career NBA coaching mark of 1,322-1,036, and is closing in on Lenny Wilkens' NBA mark of 1,332 wins. But the Warriors are just 13-29 this season so he might not get there until April.

The Warriors have had numerous injuries this season, not helping Nelson's record. Still, there has been speculation the team might not bring Nelson back for the final year of his contract.

"Well, now you're asking me something else,'' Nelson said about the chance he won't return next season due to it being a Golden State decision.

Nelson said he hasn't gotten any sort of assurances from Warriors management about next season.

As for Smart, he filled in for Nelson earlier this season when the head coach missed 10 games due to pneumonia. Nelson hopes Smart eventually would be considered as his replacement.

"I wouldn't be in charge (of hiring a new coach), but I would hope that my assistant would be (considered),' Nelson said.

Nelson reiterated he's talking about 2011, not 2010.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson