NBA legend coach Don Nelson has passed away at the age of 86.

August 10th - According to ESPN , Don Nelson , the NBA's second-most-winning head coach in history, a five-time NBA champion, and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer , passed away on Sunday at the age of 86 .

Nelson coached for 31 seasons, leading the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks, and Mavericks, accumulating a regular season record of 1335 wins and 1063 losses. He held the record for most wins by a coach in NBA history at the time of his retirement, a record surpassed by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in March 2022. Nelson led his teams to the playoffs 18 times, achieving a playoff record of 75 wins and 91 losses, and was named NBA Coach of the Year three times.

As a player, Nelson played 11 seasons with the Celtics, winning five NBA championships. The team retired his number 19 jersey in 1978. He played a total of 1,053 regular season games in his career , averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

After retiring, Nelson immediately transitioned into coaching, gradually developing his unique " Nelson-style basketball . " He emphasized small lineups, speed, and mismatches, later becoming a key pioneer of modern NBA small-ball. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised him as a " true innovator , " believing that many common game philosophies in the league today can be traced back to Nelson.

Nelson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and will receive the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He also coached the NBA All-Star Game twice and led the U.S. men's national team to victory in the 1994 FIBA World Championship.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated, " Don Nelson transformed NBA basketball with his fearlessness, creativity, and unwavering belief. His impact on the sport will last for generations. "

Image source: Internet