Don Nelson, Legendary NBA Coach, Passes Away!

Nelson passed away on Sunday morning, surrounded by his loved ones. His family stated that friends and family were by his side during his final week, sharing memories and his last moments.

Nelson leaves behind a career spanning over three decades, during which he coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. In 31 seasons, he amassed 1,335 regular-season wins against 1,063 losses, a record that once placed him atop the NBA's all-time coaching wins list. He currently ranks second, behind Gregg Popovich.

He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and was twice recognized among the greatest coaches in league history. Most recently, in 2021, he was selected as one of the 15 greatest coaches of all time. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Nelson left a significant mark with his distinctive playing style, known as "Nellie Ball." His teams played at a high tempo, utilizing smaller, more agile lineups, aiming to constantly create unfavorable matchups for opposing defenses. The concepts Nelson popularized later became integral to modern NBA basketball.

However, his five championship rings were earned not as a coach, but as a player.

Nelson arrived in Boston in 1965 and spent the next 14 seasons wearing the Celtics jersey. He was part of a generation led by Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and John Havlicek, winning a total of five NBA titles with Boston. In the playoffs, he played 134 games for the Celtics, averaging 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
His contribution to the club was further cemented after his playing career – in 1978, Boston retired his number 19 jersey. As a coach, Nelson concluded his final season in 2010. With his 1,333rd regular-season victory, he surpassed Lenny Wilkens to become the NBA's all-time winningest coach. He retired with a total of 1,335 triumphs.