Frisco: Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame basketball coach who racked up the second-highest number of victories in NBA history and won five championships as a Boston Celtics player, has died at the age of 86, his family announced Sunday. Nelson died peacefully in Frisco, Texas, surrounded by his family. No cause of death was given.
According to Anadolu Agency, Nelson's family stated, "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." The statement highlighted the presence of friends and family encircling him with love during his last week, revisiting cherished memories. Known throughout basketball as 'Nellie,' Nelson spent nearly five decades in the NBA as a player, coach, and general manager.
Nelson played 14 seasons in the league, including 11 with the Celtics, and helped Boston win NBA championships in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976. His No. 19 jersey was retired by the Celtics, with the number hanging in the rafters at Boston's TD Garden.
After retiring as a player in 1976, Nelson embarked on a 31-season head-coaching career with stints at the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. He concluded his coaching career with a regular-season record of 1,335 wins and 1,063 defeats, placing him second in NBA history behind Gregg Popovich. Nelson led his teams to 18 playoff appearances and eight division championships, earning NBA Coach of the Year honors in 1983, 1985, and 1992.
Renowned as a tactical innovator, Nelson popularized strategies like small lineups, fast-paced offense, and the 'point forward' position, which allowed a taller forward to assume playmaking duties. His approach, termed 'Nellie Ball,' significantly influenced the modern NBA's focus on speed, versatility, and three-point shooting.
Nelson coached Milwaukee to seven consecutive division titles before leading the Warriors, where his up-tempo offense energized the 'Run TMC' trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin. In Dallas, he built the Mavericks around Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, guiding the team to four consecutive 50-win seasons.
Nelson returned to Golden State in 2006 and spearheaded the 'We Believe' Warriors to a historic first-round playoff win over the 67-win Mavericks in 2007. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012 and received the National Basketball Coaches Association's Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remarked that Nelson "revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction" and added, "His impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations."