Don Nelson, a legendary basketball figure, has died at the age of 86. His family announced the news on Sunday. Nelson spent nearly 50 years with the NBA, leaving a lasting legacy as both a player and a revolutionary coach.
As a player, Nelson won five NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. His contributions to the game spanned several decades, transitioning from a championship-winning player to one of the most successful coaches in the league's history.
Nelson is recognized as the second-winningest coach in NBA history and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012. At the time of his induction, he held the record for the most wins as a head coach in NBA history. A three-time Coach of the Year, he is also credited with introducing the Nellie ball.
He was one of only two coaches in NBA history to achieve at least 250 wins with three different franchises, recording those victories with Milwaukee, Dallas, and Golden State.