NewzDon Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. He was 86.Nelson’s family confirmed the death in a statement that did not say where he died or provide a cause.“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,” the statement said. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”Nelson is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — also serving as general manager for all three franchises.
He was a three-time coach of the year and made the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons. He went to the conference finals three times with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks, never winning a title.Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style of offense created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from the dominant big men of the 1970s to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from his playing days under Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.“The league really hadn’t seen an offense like the one we were running, and the results were undeniable,” Nelson wrote in 2016 in The Players’ Tribune.Nelson said that “without Red Auerbach teaching me the mechanics of running the fast break, none of it would have been possible.
He deserves all the credit for Nellie Ball, and for how fast the game of basketball is played today.”Nelson played 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston and was on five Celtics championship teams under four different coaches. He became an assistant coach in Milwaukee after retiring as a player, then took over after coach Larry Costello resigned 18 games into the 1976-77 season. Nelson coached the Bucks for 11 seasons starting in 1976 and won seven straight division titles.In Nelson’s second season, Milwaukee overcame a 29-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Atlanta 117-115 in regulation.“I coached the team as though I was still playing for the Celtics, while implementing a few of my own strategies,” Nelson wrote.
“I knew I wanted to play unconventional basketball and use speed to my advantage.”His fast-paced offenses were probably best on display with… FILE - Former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson smiles while being interviewed at the Warriors NBA training facility in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)(AP/Jeff Chiu) FILE - Former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson smiles while being interviewed at the Warriors NBA training facility in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)(AP/Jeff Chiu) Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. Nelson’s death was announced by the Golden State Warriors, one of the teams he coached. Nelson is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — also serving as general manager for all three franchises.
Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style of offense created a buzz. Nelson played 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston and was on five Celtics championship teams under four different coaches. His fast-paced offenses were probably best on display with Golden State in the “Run TMC” era featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.
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