OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Don Nelson has been invited to the NBA Finals countless times in recent years, always declining those opportunities.

This time, his peers found a way to ensure he couldn’t say no.

Nelson — a Basketball Hall of Famer and three-time NBA coach of the year — was announced Sunday as this year’s recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association. It was formally given out Sunday night, about an hour before Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder beat the Pacers 123-107, tying the series at 1-1 after two games.

“History has already reflected Don Nelson’s staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game,” said Pacers coach an

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