Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson passes away at age 86
10 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 9, 2026, 7:23 PM
Last updated Aug 9, 2026
Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame basketball coach and five-time NBA champion as a player, died at 86. His family announced his death on August 9. Nelson enjoyed a lengthy coaching career spanning 31 seasons with teams including the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. While he never secured an NBA championship as a coach, he ranks second all-time in coaching wins with 1,335. Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
- •Nelson coached 31 NBA seasons and won three Coach of the Year awards.
- •He is one of only three coaches to achieve over 1,300 wins.
- •Nelson's No. 19 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics in 1978.
- •He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2012.
- •Nelson passed away surrounded by family and friends.
- 7:23 PMESPN — Nelson, second winningest NBA coach, dies at 86
- 7:17 PMYahoo Sports — Don Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
- 7:01 PMThe Guardian Sport — Don Nelson, legendary coach and five-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86
- 6:43 PMYahoo Sports — Don Nelson, NBA coaching pioneer and Hall of Famer, dies at 86
- 6:40 PMCBS NBA — Hall of Famer Don Nelson dies at 86: Five-time NBA champion won three Coach of the Year awards
- 6:22 PMYahoo Sports — Don Nelson dies at 86: Tributes pour in for one of NBA's all-time winningest coaches
- 5:40 PMYahoo Sports — Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Nelson, 3-time NBA Coach of the Year and 5-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86
"Nelson had second-most coaching wins in NBA history Won five titles with Boston Celtics in 1960s and 70s Helped develop stars Steph Curry and Dirk Nowitzki Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died on Sunday. He was 86. Nelson’s death was announced by the Golden State Warriors, one of the teams he coached. Continue reading...
"Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. He was 86.
"Don Nelson, who coached 31 NBA seasons in a style so far ahead of the league that everybody eventually copied it, died Sunday.
Sources
External links- ESPNAug 9, 2026, 7:23 PMNelson, second winningest NBA coach, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
- Yahoo SportsAug 9, 2026, 7:17 PMDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. He was 86.
- The Guardian SportAug 9, 2026, 7:01 PMDon Nelson, legendary coach and five-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86
Nelson had second-most coaching wins in NBA history Won five titles with Boston Celtics in 1960s and 70s Helped develop stars Steph Curry and Dirk Nowitzki Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died on Sunday. He was 86. Nelson’s death was announced by the Golden State Warriors, one of the teams he coached. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsAug 9, 2026, 6:43 PMDon Nelson, NBA coaching pioneer and Hall of Famer, dies at 86
Don Nelson, who coached 31 NBA seasons in a style so far ahead of the league that everybody eventually copied it, died Sunday.
- CBS NBAAug 9, 2026, 6:40 PMHall of Famer Don Nelson dies at 86: Five-time NBA champion won three Coach of the Year awards
The inventor of Nellie Ball is the second-winningest regular-season coach in NBA history
- Yahoo SportsAug 9, 2026, 6:22 PMDon Nelson dies at 86: Tributes pour in for one of NBA's all-time winningest coaches
The basketball world is mourning the loss of Don Nelson, the NBA's second-winningest coach of all time.
- Yahoo SportsAug 9, 2026, 5:40 PMHall of Fame basketball coach Don Nelson, 3-time NBA Coach of the Year and 5-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86
Nelson ranks second all-time in wins among NBA coaches and is one of three coaches to win 1,300 games.
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