Don Nelson, one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, has passed away
The legendary player and coach, who won five championships as a player, has passed away at the age of 86. Nelson ranks second in all-time NBA coaching wins and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
The American basketball world is saying goodbye to one of the greatest figures in NBA history. Don Nelson, a Hall of Famer who won the Coach of the Year award three times and celebrated five NBA championships as a player for the Boston Celtics, has passed away at the age of 86. His family announced his death, stating that he was surrounded by loved ones in his final moments.
"On Sunday morning, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather Don Nelson passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family," the family stated. "During his final week, friends and family surrounded him with love and shared precious memories."
Nelson was part of Boston's history since his playing days. He won five NBA championships with the Celtics, and the club retired his jersey number 19 in 1978. In 2012, he received further recognition when he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his career achievements.
However, Nelson left his biggest mark on the sidelines. Over 31 seasons as an NBA head coach, he led the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, and also coached the Golden State Warriors in two separate stints. During his coaching career, Nelson recorded 1,335 wins against 1,063 losses and won seven conference titles. He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and became one of the most recognizable coaches in the league. His impressive record places him second on the list of coaches with the most wins in NBA history, with the only person ahead of him being Gregg Popovich. Nelson is also one of only three coaches in history to reach the 1,300-win mark.
Dirk Nowitzki, whom Nelson selected in the draft, paid tribute to him:
"Nellie, you believed in me. You saw things in my game before I realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have developed like this without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say thank you. For everything."
