Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson qualified to coach the Western Conference's team in the All-Star Game when the Lakers lost to Philadelphia on Sunday, reports the Star Telegram's Dwain Price. The loss dropped L.A. percentage points below Dallas. Sacramento leads the Western Conference in wins, but coach Rick Adelman participated in last year's event and so is ineligible. Nelson is excited about the appointment because of what it indicates about how far the Mavericks have come.
Byron Scott of the New Jersey Nets will coach the East.
In the NBA Rookie Challenge, the Sophomores will be coached by former coach Billy Cunningham, assisted by Bobby Jones. The Rookies will be coached by Chuck Daly with Darryl Dawkins as his assistant. Except for Daly, all the coaches had played for Philadelphia, the city that is hosting the event.