Don Nelson, one of the most influential coaches in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, has died at the age of 86.
Nelson died peacefully Sunday morning surrounded by his family, according to a statement provided by his family.
“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,” Nelson’s family said. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”
Nelson leaves behind a remarkable basketball legacy spanning nearly five decades.
Across 31 seasons as an NBA head coach, Nelson compiled a 1,335-1,063 regular-season record while leading the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.
He retired as the winningest coach in league history before San Antonio Spurs legend Gregg Popovich eventually surpassed his 1,335 victories in 2022.
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. “He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not. So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game.”
Before becoming a legendary coach, Nelson built an incredible playing career of his own. He won five championships during 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, who later retired his No. 19 jersey.
Nelson’s impact also extended to some of the NBA’s biggest stars.
He helped Dallas acquire Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash and later pushed Golden State to select Stephen Curry with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Nelson won NBA Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
“Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “He spent nearly 50 years in the NBA — winning five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics before building one of the most successful and pioneering coaching careers in league history.”
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