Don Nelson, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, five-time NBA champion, and three-time Coach of the Year, passed away at the age of 86, his family announced on August 9.
Nelson ranks second in NBA history for the most regular-season coaching wins with 1,335, trailing only Gregg Popovich. Over his 31-year coaching career, he led the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks.
He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
As a player, Nelson won five championships during his 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, and his number 19 jersey was retired in 1978. He played 14 seasons in the NBA.
“Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, inventiveness, and deep conviction,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Nelson was the pioneer of the style of basketball that brought Golden State its titles in the mid-2010s—emphasizing offense, speed, and a small lineup dominance.
Related Stories
