Don Nelson, the second most successful coach in NBA history and a five-time champion with the Boston Celtics, passed away at the age of 86 on Sunday.
The family of Nelson confirmed his passing in a statement that did not disclose the location or cause of his death.
“Our cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Don Nelson, peacefully departed to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement read. “During his last days, friends and family enveloped him with love, cherishing his companionship and reminiscing on fond memories.”
Nelson stands alongside a select few NBA coaches with over 250 wins across three different teams — Milwaukee, Dallas, and Golden State — while also serving as the general manager for these franchises. He was named Coach of the Year thrice and led his teams to the playoffs 18 times in his 31-season tenure. Despite coming close, he never claimed an NBA title, reaching the conference finals on three occasions with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks.
Pioneering the concept now recognized as the point forward, Nelson’s fast-paced offensive strategies created a stir in the basketball world. He attributed the shift from traditional big-man dominance to speedy, breakneck basketball to his time playing under the legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach.
“Our style of play was revolutionary for the league at that time, and the outcomes spoke for themselves,” Nelson penned in The Players’ Tribune in 2016.
Crediting Red Auerbach for imparting the fast break mechanics, Nelson acknowledged that without him, the innovative approach known as Nellie Ball and the rapid tempo of modern basketball would not have materialized.
Guided Bucks to 7 consecutive division titles
Having played 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics and earned five championship rings, Nelson transitioned to coaching as an assistant in Milwaukee post-retirement. He assumed the head coaching role after Larry Costello’s departure early in the 1976-77 season and led the Bucks for 11 seasons, clinching a remarkable seven straight division titles.
In a memorable moment during his second season, Milwaukee triumphed over Atlanta with a stunning comeback from a 29-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
“I approached coaching as if I were still on the court with the Celtics, blending in some of my own strategies,” Nelson reflected. “I envisioned playing an unconventional, fast-paced style to exploit our speed advantage.”
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson. <a href=”https://t.co/CAhGYhAUXo”>pic.twitter.com/CAhGYhAUXo</a>
—Bucks
Nelson’s innovative offensive schemes were prominently displayed during his tenure with Golden State in the “Run TMC” era, featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin. Nelson’s vision included having these stars on the court simultaneously.
With 11 seasons split between two stints at Golden State, Nelson faced challenges, including a conflict with rookie standout Chris Webber, who was traded early in his second season. Disheartened by the trade, Nelson missed nine games due to illness that season and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995.
In the interim, Nelson’s coaching stint in New York was short-lived in 1995-96, followed by an eight-season tenure with the Mavericks, during which he took a break starting in December 2000 for prostate cancer surgery, missing 21 games.
Nurtured Steve Nash into an elite point guard
Nelson’s son, Donnie, joined him as an assistant coach with the Mavericks in 1998, eventually becoming the general manager and staying with the team until 2021. Together, they convinced the young German star Dirk Nowitzki to forego European basketball and join the Mavericks. Additionally, Nelson played a pivotal role in developing Steve Nash into a premier NBA point guard before Nash went on to secure back-to-back MVP awards with the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006.
A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten.&