NBA Coaching Legend Don Nelson Passes Away at 86

Don Nelson, famed for being the second-winningest coach in NBA history, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86. Nelson is remembered not only for his coaching success but also for winning five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics. His family confirmed his peaceful departure in a statement, though they did not disclose the place or cause of his death. They expressed gratitude for the last week, during which friends and family gathered around him, sharing cherished memories.

Nelson stands out as one of only two coaches in NBA history with at least 250 wins across three franchises: Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors. He served as a general manager for these teams as well, garnering three-time Coach of the Year honors and leading teams to the playoffs 18 times over 31 seasons. Although he reached the conference finals three times with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks, he never secured a championship as a coach.

His innovative approach to basketball includes the introduction of the ‘point forward’ position and a fast-paced offense that later gained widespread adoption. These strategies were influenced by his playing days under Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. Nelson credits Auerbach for teaching him the mechanics of the fast break, elements critical to his coaching success.

In his playing career, Nelson spent 11 out of 14 seasons with the Celtics, winning championships under four different coaches. His coaching career kicked off as an assistant in Milwaukee. He took over as head coach when Larry Costello resigned early in the 1976-77 season, leading the Bucks to seven straight division titles.

One notable game during Nelson’s tenure in Milwaukee saw the team overcome a 29-point deficit against Atlanta. Nelson’s coaching style merged elements from his playing days with novel strategies, emphasizing speed in basketball. This would be prominently displayed in his time with Golden State during the ‘Run TMC’ era featuring Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin.

While at Golden State, he experienced a setback when a rift with rookie star Chris Webber led to Webber’s trade. This situation affected Nelson profoundly, contributing to his resignation in 1995. He then had a brief stint with the New York Knicks before moving to Dallas, where he coached for eight seasons. During this period, he collaborated with his son, Donnie Nelson, in the Mavericks organization. Together, they were key in bringing Dirk Nowitzki to the team and in developing Steve Nash as one of the league’s leading point guards.

Nelson’s legacy is evident in the modern NBA, with coaches like Steve Kerr acknowledging his innovative tactics. In 2007, Nelson’s ‘We Believe’ Warriors, led by Baron Davis, famously upset the top-seeded Mavericks in the playoffs. In his last season coaching, he worked with rookie Stephen Curry, who holds Nelson in high regard for their time together.

Nelson retired as the coach with the most wins in NBA history at the time, with 1,335 victories. He maintained this record until longtime friend Gregg Popovich surpassed it in 2022. Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Nelson attended high school in Rock Island, Illinois, and excelled in college basketball at Iowa. He spent his retirement years enjoying life on Maui in Hawaii, where he owned several short-term rentals.