Jim Petersen’s most cherished memories as an NBA forward-center came during the three years he spent with the Golden State Warriors.

His favorite season was in 1990-91, when Golden State, a No. 7 seed, eliminated the heavily favored San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

“We weren’t your typical No. 7 seed,” Petersen said after the Game 4 clincher at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. “We felt we were a better team than a lot of people gave us credit for. And we were prepared to play well. It was really just a total team effort.”

Petersen said he has his former coach, Don Nelson, to thank for the preparation, teaching and game planning that went into not only that particular playoff series, but the year as a whole.

“There was never any second guessing as to who the guy in charge was — it was always Nellie,” Petersen said in a telephone interview from Minneapolis last week. “His game planning was always impeccable. He’s brilliant.

“He was the most innovative, smart coach that I ever played for.”

Now Nelson is back with the Warriors, replacing Mike Montgomery, who was dismissed after two years as coach.

Nelson takes over a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in 12 years, the league’s longest postseason drought.

It’s Nelson’s second coaching stint with the Warriors; he was 277-260 (.516 winning percentage) in six-plus seasons as the team’s head coach and general manager starting in 1988-89. Nelson took Golden State to the playoffs in four of his six complete seasons with the team, highlighted by a pair of 50-win seasons in 1991-92 (55-27) and 1993-94 (50-32).

“His ability to evaluate players, and to bring guys in that he thinks have a like mind-set I think is very good,” said Petersen. “He’s an amazing evaluator of talent. It doesn’t matter how old he is — he’ll always have that ability to size a guy up and say this guy can play or this guy can’t play.”

Nelson, 66, earned NBA Coach of the Year honors with the Warriors in 1991-92. He was also head coach of the Western Conference All-Star team in 1992.

With Nelson on the sidelines and calling the shots, Golden State ranked among the top four scoring teams in the NBA in each of his six complete seasons. He won with a small team, but a team that was offensive-minded, made it to the playoffs, and gave its fans something to be excited about.

Petersen, a television analyst for the

Minnesota Timberwolves’ broadcast team, and Frank White, a former team chaplain for the Warriors who was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Napa for 10 years, both view Nelson’s return to the Golden State bench as good news.

“Those players are going to get a real opportunity to learn and grow with a seasoned coach,” said White, who works as a parish associate at a church near Tempe, Ariz. “Don already is a great coach. He’s got a bunch of guys there that will respond with loyalty.”

Nelson will start the 2006-07 season as the second-winningest coach in NBA history (1,190), trailing only Lenny Wilkens (1,332). He has led his teams to 17 playoff appearances, ranking 10th on the NBA’s all-time playoff winning list (70). He was named one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history during the league’s 50th anniversary season in 1997.

“Even though his track record is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, he still has some things that he wants to accomplish — and one of them is winning a championship; he still hasn’t done that,” said Petersen, who also played for Houston and Sacramento in a career that spanned eight years. “How many coaches out there have his track record and his expertise and his level of knowledge of the game? There just aren’t very many.”

Nelson is reunited with three of his former players — Chris Mullin, Rod Higgins and Mitch Richmond — who now work in the team’s front office. Nelson’s hiring was announced last week by Mullin, the club’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

“He is an incredible optimist,” said White, whose wife, Joan, is a cousin of Nelson’s. “He is an intense winner. I see a man who’s going to be looking at the world of basketball and finding some ball players that can win.”

Petersen recalled his years in Golden State when the team played with integrity and displayed a work ethic and commitment — a reflection of Nelson’s leadership. He expects the Warriors to be more competitive, a fun team to watch, and a team that should win more close games.

“I think what (players) can expect is to be put into a system that will amplify their talents,” said Petersen. “I think they can expect to be put in situations to make them successful. I think that Nellie will bring excitement back to the Coliseum — that’s one thing that’s going to happen. You’re going to have a competitive team.

“Don Nelson definitely knows what he’s doing out there, and the guys hopefully will play for him.”

Nelson is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year and his teams have recorded 50 or more wins in 13 of his 27 seasons as a head coach.

Prior to re-joining the Warriors, Nelson spent six full seasons as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. He led the Mavericks to four consecutive 50-win seasons and guided them to four postseason appearances.

“I just look for good things for the Warriors and I hope the fans embrace this team, embrace Don Nelson as their coach, and they have fun with what’s about to happen this coming season,” said Petersen. “Don Nelson is a guy that takes charge — that’s a very important thing to have. I think it’s going to be an exciting time. I think it’s going to be a good thing for the Warriors.

“Buckle up and enjoy the ride.”