Don Nelson, Legendary NBA Coach and Five-Time Champion, Dies at 86

Don Nelson, the legendary basketball figure who became the second-winningest coach in NBA history and won five championships as a player with the Theguardian, died on Sunday at the age of 86, according to ESPN.

Don Nelson Passes Away at Age 86

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. The family did not release a cause of death.

A Storied Playing Career and Five Championships

Before his decades-long coaching career, Nelson played 14 seasons in the NBA, spending 11 of those years in Boston. Standing 6 feet, 6 inches tall, he compensated for a lack of size, speed, or jumping ability by playing a smart, disciplined game. He won five NBA titles with the Celtics under four different coaches and set a club record with 463 consecutive appearances.

One of the most famous moments of his playing career occurred during the seventh game of the 1969 NBA finals against Los Angeles. With Boston holding a one-point lead, Nelson hit a 15-footer that bounced high off the back of the rim and dropped through the net. Teammate and player-coach Bill Russell called the shot the kind that gives you three heart attacks, while Nelson himself described it as the luckiest shot in basketball history. The Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978.

Innovative Coaching Legacy and Nellie Ball

Transitioning immediately to the sidelines, Nelson joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach for the 1976-77 season. He took over as head coach 15 games into that season after Larry Costello was fired, and later assumed general manager duties as well. Across 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, The Boston Globe, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson compiled a regular-season record of 1,335-1,063 and made 18 playoff appearances.

Memorable Eras and Coaching Milestones

At the time of his retirement, Nelson held the record for the most coaching wins in NBA history with 1,335 victories, a mark later surpassed by Gregg Popovich in March 2022. Tributes poured in from across the basketball world following his passing, with former player Baron Davis noting that Nelson was a huge part of making a special time in his career possible.