By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-09 18:37:00 | Updated at 2026-08-09 23:37:51
5 hours ago
Don Nelson, one of the most legendary coaches in the history of the NBA and a five-time champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, has died at the age of 86.
A statement released by his family said he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.
'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 read.
'Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.'
Nelson is best known for his career as a coach, when he held the record for the most wins in NBA history for a period of 12 years before being passed by former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. He is one of only eleven coaches in NBA history to amass 1,000 wins in a career.
Prior to that, Nelson played 14 seasons in the NBA and was a key contributor to the championship winning Celtics teams of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Don Nelson, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, has died at the age of 86
Nelson was the winningest coach in NBA history for a decade before being passed in 2022
Born in Michigan, Nelson grew up in the Illinois portion of the Quad Cities region. Despite a lack of recruitment, Nelson went on to play for the University of Iowa.
Nelson was a star for the Hawkeyes, being named a third-team All-American in 1962 and an Honorable Mention in 1961.
After graduating college, he was selected in the third round with the 17th overall pick of the 1962 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zephyrs. He was then waived by the team before they moved to Baltimore - where they became the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards).
The Los Angeles Lakers claimed Nelson off waivers. He played for the team for two seasons and made the playoffs each year - including reaching the 1965 NBA Finals, where the Lakers lost to the Celtics.
Nelson then signed with the Celtics that offseason after becoming a free agent. He would go on to spend eleven seasons at the Boston Garden, playing alongside Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Paul Westphal, Don Chaney and KC Jones among others across his career.
Across his time in Boston, Nelson carved himself a role as a sixth man and is considered one of the greatest sixth-men in NBA history.
Nelson would win five NBA titles in Boston in 1966 (his first season with the team), 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1976. Two years after his playing career ended, the Celtics retired his No. 19 - which now hangs in the rafters at TD Garden.
Nelson carved a role for himself as a six-man and is considered one of the best in NBA history
Nelson's career as a coach and executive began in 1976 as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. After coach Larry Costello resigned just 18 games into the season, Nelson became the team's head coach.
Throughout his tenure with the Bucks from 1977 to 1987, Milwaukee made the playoffs in all but two seasons. However, they never went further than the conference semifinals.
Nelson resigned as head coach of the Bucks in 1987, in part due to a rift with team owner Herb Kohl. After fielding offers from multiple teams, he chose to join the Golden State Warriors - which had been bought by the former Bucks owner Jim Fitzgerald.
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