Don Nelson Dies at 86, NBA Innovator
Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame NBA coach who won 1,335 games and helped popularize small-ball and the “point forward” while coaching the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks, has died at 86. A five-time NBA champion as a player with the Celtics, he left a lasting impact on the game even though he never captured a head-coaching title.
Sports · 114 sources · Aug 13, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Don Nelson
Donald Arvid Nelson was an American professional basketball player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After an All-American career playing college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Nelson won five NBA championships playing with the Boston Celtics, with his number 19 retired by the franchise in 1978.
Everything about Don Nelson →- Occupation
- basketball player, basketball coach
- Citizenship
- United States
- Born
- May 15, 1940
- Died
- August 9, 2026