Hall of Fame coach and former Celtics champion Don Nelson dies at 86
Don Nelson, a former Boston Celtics player and Hall of Fame NBA coach, died at 86 surrounded by family, according to a family statement.
Don Nelson, a former Boston Celtics player and Hall of Fame coach, died at age 86, his family announced Sunday. Nelson, who won five championships as a player with the Celtics and was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, passed away at home surrounded by relatives.
The family said Nelson died "peacefully" and that friends and relatives gathered around him during his final week. The Celtics noted that Nelson played 11 seasons for Boston, had his number 19 retired in 1978, and was a key contributor to five title teams, including a decisive foul-line jumper in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals that helped secure the franchise’s 11th championship.
Nelson also played for the Chicago Zephyrs and Los Angeles Lakers before beginning a coaching career that included stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors. The Warriors described him as a "basketball visionary" whose unconventional approach influenced later generations of players and coaches and left a lasting impact on the Warriors organization.