Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson, 86, passes away

Don Nelson, a five-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and one of the winningest coaches in league history, died on Sunday at age 86, his family said in a statement. The family did not disclose a cause of death, though reports indicated he suffered a stroke about three weeks earlier.

Nelson, inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012, finished his career with 1,335 regular-season victories, second only to Gregg Popovich. He began coaching as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1976 and became known for “Nellie Ball,” a fast-paced offense that emphasized smaller, athletic players. Over 31 seasons he served as head coach of four franchises, including 11 seasons each with the Bucks and Golden State Warriors, eight with the Dallas Mavericks, and a brief stint with the New York Knicks.

On April 7, 2010, Nelson surpassed Lenny Wilkens for the most regular-season wins, ending his coaching career with a 1,335-1,063 record and a .556 winning percentage. He earned two NBA Coach of the Year awards with the Bucks and guided teams to 18 playoff appearances, highlighted by the Warriors’ 2007 “We Believe” upset of the Mavericks.

Nelson also played a key role in rebuilding the Mavericks, facilitating the draft-night acquisitions of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in 1998, moves that helped the franchise become a high-scoring team in the early 2000s. Nowitzki later thanked Nelson publicly for believing in his potential.

As a player, Nelson spent 11 seasons with the Celtics, winning five championships and having his No. 19 jersey retired in 1978. Red Auerbach once predicted Nelson would become a successful coach, noting his deep knowledge of the game.

Nelson was born on May 15, 1940, in Muskegon, Michigan, and grew up on a farm near Sherrard, Illinois, before moving to Rock Island, where he developed his passion for basketball.