There's nothing quite like some downtime in Hawaii to brighten one's outlook.
That's how Don Nelson seemed to portray his recent decision to coach the Golden State Warriors for at least one more season.
"I got the chance to rest a little bit, think about it, and wanted to come back," Nelson told the San Francisco Chronicle from the team's practice facility in Oakland. "It wasn't that hard. I just needed to get away for a few weeks. I'm ready for more action."
The Press Democrat of Santa Ana, Calif., reported Nelson's return on Sunday. The league's second winningest coach of all time behind Lenny Wilkens, Nelson and the team set a June 1 deadline for the coach, who turned 68 in May, to make a decision.
Nelson, who lives in Hawaii in the offseason, has one year left on his contract at about $5 million. The Warriors exercised that option in March, when they were on a pace to win 52 games. They finished 48-34, missing what would have been their second consecutive playoff berth by two games.
"If they're happy and I'm happy, we might do it more, you know?" Nelson told the Chronicle. "Larry Brown's older than me and just took a four-year job" with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Nelson also said the franchise will have more on its mind in 2008-09 than just reaching the postseason.
"Last year, we were very single-minded in trying to make the playoffs. It's what the organization wanted to do, to make the playoffs again, and we tried to do that and we failed," he told the Chronicle. "Part of my job next year is to bring [players like 2007-08 rookies Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli] along, and if it costs us some games, which it probably will, then that's what it'll do.
"I'll have to prepare myself mentally for that, but I think it's the right thing to do. They're the future of the team."