Don Nelson, one of the most important and innovative figures in NBA history, has died at the age of 86. The news of the former coach\u2019s passing was confirmed by his family.<\/p>\n
Nelson enjoyed a long career both as a player and a coach. As a player, he won five NBA championships with the Boston Celtics<\/strong>, while from the sidelines he coached, among others, the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.<\/p>\n With 1,335 regular-season wins<\/strong>, Nelson ranks second all-time among NBA head coaches, behind Gregg Popovich. He was also named Coach of the Year three times<\/strong> and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012<\/strong>.<\/p>\n One of the most memorable moments of his coaching career came with the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 playoffs, when the No. 8 seed stunned the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Dallas had finished first in the Western Conference after winning 67 games during the regular season.<\/p>\n Nelson is also remembered for his innovative approach to the game, anticipating some of the trends that have become central to modern basketball. One example was the Run TMC<\/strong> Warriors of 1989, featuring the explosive scoring trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.<\/p>\n Below are some of the messages shared by the NBA world following Nelson\u2019s passing, including tributes from the Mavericks and Warriors<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Hall of Famer Don Nelson, three-time NBA Coach of the Year and five times a champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, has died at age 86.<\/p>\n The family has issued this statement:<\/p>\n \u201cOn Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/MkDMNugYcu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n