In the wake of last week’s Maui wildfires, former NBA head coach Don Nelson has decided to help give back to the community.
Nelson, the NBA’s all-time second-most winningest coach, settled in Maui shortly after resigning from the Warriors prior to the 2010-11 season and purchased a farm and some rental properties. Nelson has made Maui his home, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to, and I think it’s the most beautiful place in the world, I haven’t really left in eight years. Why would I? Life is so good here.”
Following the wildfires, he made the decision to open up the rental properties to whoever needed to use them, free of charge. While Nelson is doing what he can to help, problems persist, such as space and availability. “We’re doing the best we can, but we only have space for about 24 people,” Nelson said. “There are thousands of people homeless right now. It’s overwhelming.”
The fires haven’t dampened Nelson’s love for Maui. If anything, they’ve done the opposite. Nelson, along with his wife and daughter, has been working almost nonstop all week getting people into the rental properties whenever a vacancy opens up, and driving people where they need to go. “I’m not going anywhere, this is home. Right now, it needs all our help.”
