Don Nelson, an iconic figure in NBA history, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86. The Golden State Warriors shared the news of his death. Nelson holds the title of the second-winningest coach in NBA history and captured five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics.
Throughout his illustrious career, Nelson achieved an impressive record of at least 250 wins with three different teams: Milwaukee, Dallas, and Golden State. He also served as the general manager for these franchises. An innovator in the sport, Nelson was a three-time coach of the year and reached the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons. He led teams to the conference finals four times but never won a title as a coach.
Nelson’s legacy includes introducing the ‘point forward’ and implementing an up-tempo offensive style. Inspired by his playing days with the Celtics under coach Red Auerbach, Nelson shifted focus from dominant big men to speed and fast breaks.
During his playing career, Nelson spent 11 of his 14 seasons with the Boston Celtics, contributing to five championship victories under four different coaches. After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career as an assistant in Milwaukee. Nelson took over the Bucks during the 1976-77 season after coach Larry Costello resigned, leading them to seven consecutive division titles over his 11-season tenure.
The ‘Run TMC’ era at Golden State showcased Nelson’s fast-paced approach with players like Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin. Nelson’s aim was to have them play together on the court.
Nelson’s relationship with Chris Webber marked his first stint with Golden State, which concluded with Nelson’s resignation in 1995 amid pressure and health issues. He briefly coached the New York Knicks for less than a season before joining the Dallas Mavericks, where he battled illness but still made significant contributions.
At Dallas, Nelson worked alongside his son, Donnie, from 1998, shaping future stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. Under Nelson’s guidance, Nash became one of the NBA’s top point guards, later winning MVP awards with the Phoenix Suns.
Nelson’s ‘We Believe’ Warriors in 2007 delivered one of the NBA’s greatest upsets by defeating the top-seeded Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki, in the playoffs. In his final coaching season, Nelson played a crucial role in the development of rookie Stephen Curry in 2009-10.
Nelson retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching victories with 1,335 wins, surpassing the previous record held by Lenny Wilkens. Gregg Popovich later broke this record in March 2022. Nelson’s contributions to basketball, his innovative tactics, and his nurturing of talent have left a lasting impact on the sport.
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