Don Nelson, legendary Hall of Fame NBA player and innovative head coach, passed away on, August 9th, 2026, at the age of 86.
Known for pioneering the fast-paced “Nellie Ball” system, Nelson left an indelible mark on basketball history. Nelson spent decades in the NBA as both an elite role player and a mastermind on the sidelines.
* As a Player: He won five NBA championships playing forward for the Boston Celtics, who retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978.
* As a Coach: He won 1,335 regular-season games across stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors. He held the all-time NBA coaching wins record for over a decade before Gregg Popovich surpassed him in 2022.
* Accolades: He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. He was NBA All Star Game Head Coach 2 times in 1992 and 2002. Named Top 10 Coaches in NBA History. In 2025 he was awarded the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.
Key Highlights of Nelson’s coaching career include:
With the Milwaukee Bucks, he won seven straight division titles, pioneered the point forward position.
With the Golden State Warriors, he led the famous “Run TMC” era and coached the 2007 “We Believe” team that upset the top-seeded Mavericks.
With the Dallas Mavericks, Nelson rebuilt the franchise into a powerhouse around Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in the early 2000s.
His career playing statistics included 10,898 points, 5,192 rebounds and 1,526 assists.
