The legendary NBA coach Don Nelson died this past Sunday at the age of 86, according to his family, who announced it through ESPN.
Nelson ranks as the second-winningest coach in NBA history; he collected five NBA championships as a player and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
«On Sunday morning, our dear husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Don Nelson, passed away peacefully to be with our Lord, surrounded by his beloved family», read the family statement.
«During his final week, friends and family surrounded him with affection, sharing the blessing of their friendship and recounting cherished moments», the statement added.
As a coach, he was active for 31 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (in two stints), the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks, finishing with a record of 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses.
He retired with the record for the most victories by a head coach, a mark later surpassed by Gregg Popovich of the Spurs in March 2022.
He reached the playoffs 18 times with a 75-91 record.
Previously as a player, he shone with the Boston Celtics, winning five championships in his 11 seasons with the Massachusetts-based franchise. His No. 19 was retired in 1978.
- Career averages: 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game in 1,053 contests.
«The Celtics extend their deepest condolences to Nelson’s family, to his loved ones and to all those whom he influenced in his rich and impactful life in basketball and beyond», the Celtics said.
After retiring as a player, he joined the Bucks’ coaching staff as an assistant coach in 1976.
Only fifteen games later, he took over from the dismissed Larry Costello at the helm.
From then on, he implemented his famous style of play, known as “Nellie Ball,” in which he favored using smaller, more athletic players to push a fast-paced game, a concept ahead of its time.
«Don Nelson was a true innovator of this sport whose influence is still felt today», the Warriors highlighted.
«He constantly challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play, and saw possibilities in basketball that others did not. Much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA traces back to what Nellie tackled in his game», they added.
