Don Nelson, NBA’s Second-Winningest Coach and Five-Time Champion, Dies at 86

Don Nelson, one of the NBA’s most influential coaches, has died at 86. His family confirmed Don Nelson‘s passing on Sunday.

The Death

Don Nelson died Sunday morning at his home in Maui, Hawaii. He was 86. According to his family, Nelson passed away peacefully. Loved ones surrounded him. In fact, friends and family gathered around him throughout his final week. They shared memories and said their goodbyes. The Golden State Warriors announced the news publicly. However, the family did not share a cause of death.

A Coaching Career Unlike Any Other

Don Nelson coached in the NBA for 31 seasons. He led the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. Notably, he had two separate stints with Golden State. Overall, he finished with 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses. He also reached the playoffs 18 times.

For years, Don Nelson held the record for most coaching wins in NBA history. Then, in March 2022, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs broke that record. Interestingly, Nelson welcomed the moment with genuine enthusiasm.

Additionally, the NBA named him Coach of the Year three times — in 1983, 1985, and 1992. In 2012, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him as a coach. Later, in 2025, the NBA Coaches Association gave Don Nelson the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Style That Changed the Game

Don Nelson invented the point forward concept. He also introduced a faster, more athletic style of play. This style prioritized speed and spacing over traditional post-up basketball. People simply called it Nellie Ball. He first developed this system with the Bucks in the late 1970s. Later, he refined it at Golden State and Dallas. Today, these principles — smaller lineups, high pace, and spread-the-floor offense — are standard across the entire NBA.

For example, in 2007, his “We Believe” Warriors pulled off a historic upset. Led by Baron Davis, they knocked out the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Furthermore, Nelson served as both head coach and general manager with Milwaukee, Dallas, and Golden State. As a result, he became one of only two coaches in league history with 250+ wins across three franchises.

The Players He Made

Don Nelson had a rare eye for talent. He also knew how to put players in positions where they could thrive. At Dallas, for instance, he and his son Donnie convinced a 20-year-old Dirk Nowitzki to leave European basketball. Similarly, he developed Steve Nash into an elite point guard. Nash later left for Phoenix and won back-to-back MVP awards. Then, in 2009, Nelson pushed the Warriors to draft Stephen Curry with the seventh overall pick.

Curry paid tribute to Nelson on Sunday. He called him one of the greatest minds the game has ever produced. Moreover, Curry credited Nelson as the main reason he became a Warrior.

Before Coaching

Before coaching, Don Nelson played 14 seasons in the NBA. He spent 11 of those years with the Boston Celtics. Red Auerbach signed him as a free agent before the 1964-65 season. Throughout his career, Nelson averaged 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He also won five NBA championships with Boston. Consequently, the Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey. Later, in 1994, he coached Dream Team II. That team went undefeated and won gold at the FIBA World Championship in Toronto.

Life After Basketball

After he stepped away from coaching, Don Nelson moved to his 22-acre farm on Maui. There, he grew flowers, coffee, and cannabis. He often called this chapter the best of his life. Then, after the devastating Maui wildfires in August 2023, Nelson opened all his rental properties to displaced residents — free of charge.

Don Nelson‘s legacy as a coach, mentor, and innovator will continue shaping the NBA for generations.

Source: ESPN, AP, NBC News, Yardbarker, US News, KOLO TV