NBA Coach and Player Don Nelson Passes Away at 86

Don Nelson, known for his contributions as both a player and coach in the NBA, passed away at the age of 86. His family released a heartfelt statement indicating that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, continuing a legacy that has impacted basketball history.

Nelson, who suffered a stroke three weeks prior according to The Dallas Morning News, was a pivotal figure in basketball. As a player, he won five NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. In coaching, he became one of the NBA’s most successful figures, ranking second in career regular-season wins. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 for his coaching achievements.

On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family.

Renowned for developing the fast-paced “Nellie Ball” strategy, Nelson capitalized on mismatches by employing smaller, quicker players. His influential approach is adopted by many teams today. He holds a win record surpassed only by Gregg Popovich, with notable recognition among the top coaches lists in 1996 and 2021.

Nelson began his coaching career in 1976 with the Milwaukee Bucks. He served as head coach over 31 seasons for Milwaukee, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and New York Knicks. Despite not winning an NBA title as a coach, Nelson led his teams to 18 playoff appearances.

With the Mavericks, he contributed to pivotal acquisitions of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, transforming Dallas into a high-scoring team during the early 2000s. In 2003, the Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals under his leadership.

Nelson’s career with the Warriors brought memorable eras, including the “We Believe” team of 2007, leaving a lasting impact. Known for his innovative coaching style, Nelson enriched NBA history with his distinctive vision.

During his playing career with the Celtics, Nelson helped secure five championships over 14 seasons. His performance included averaging 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in playoff games. In 1978, Boston retired his No. 19 jersey, celebrating his contributions to the franchise.

Born on May 15, 1940, in Muskegon, Michigan, Nelson played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was inducted into Iowa’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, highlighting his successful college career.