Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson, who won five NBA championships as a player and was named NBA Coach of the Year three times, has died at the age of 86, his family said on Sunday.
Nelson ranks second in NBA history with 1,335 regular-season coaching victories, behind Gregg Popovich, after a 31-year coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” his family said in a statement, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.
As a player, Nelson won five championships with the Boston Celtics during an 11-year stint with the team. The Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978. He played 14 seasons in the NBA.
“Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He brought an unmistakable personality to everything he did, and his impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations.”
Nelson never won an NBA title as a coach but twice guided the Warriors to the playoffs, including a memorable first-round upset of top-seeded Dallas in 2007.
He also coached the Bucks to seven consecutive Central Division titles and helped build the Mavericks into contenders during his eight seasons in Dallas.
Nelson retired from coaching in 2010 after a second stint with Golden State.
In June 2025, Nelson received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association for his contributions to the game.
“‘Nellie’ was one of the most innovative and influential coaches in NBA history and an iconic figure in Warriors history,” Golden State said in a statement.
“He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was never afraid to challenge conventional thinking. His approach helped shape the game and paved the way for generations of players and coaches who followed.”
