NBA coaching pioneer, Hall of Famer Don Nelson dies at 86
The former coach won 1,335 regular-season games and shaped teams in Milwaukee, Golden State and Dallas, helping define modern NBA strategy.
- On Sunday, Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson died at age 86, his family announced. The five-time NBA champion passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
- Nelson enjoyed a 14-year playing career with the Boston Celtics, winning five NBA championships during one of the franchise's most dominant eras. His championships came in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1976.
- Transitioning to coaching, Nelson became a three-time NBA Coach of the Year and one of the league's winningest coaches. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 for pioneering innovative offensive strategies.
- Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, shaping the careers of stars including Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. His Golden State tenure produced some of the NBA's most entertaining teams.
- In 2025, Nelson received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing his enduring basketball impact. His family said "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.
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428 Articles
Hall of Fame Coach Don Nelson Dies at Age 86
Don Nelson’s legacy with the Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered through wins, playoff appearances and the Hall of Fame career he put together as a coach. Nelson’s presence in Dallas goes beyond his won-loss record. He also changed Mavericks culture forever. Nelson changed what the Mavericks believed they could be. Photo via AP The Hall of Fame coach and former Mavericks executive died Sunday at age 86, his family announced. Nelson died …
“She Passed Out”: Ex-Warriors Stars Pay Tribute to Don Nelson, Recall Wild Party With Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba
Don Nelson’s passing leaves a void basketball may never truly fill. Yet his legacy never needed an NBA ring to shine. He was the guiding light behind Stephen Curry’s rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and helped shape a generation of stars, including Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Now, the former Warriors stars have revealed a rare glimpse of Nelson’s unforgettable cool side. On the All The Smokes podcast, Barnes and Jackson went bac…
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