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NBA legend Don Nelson passes away at 86 on August 9

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 9, 2026, 9:00 PM

Last updated Aug 9, 2026

NBA legend Don Nelson passes away at 86 on August 9

Summary

Don Nelson, the NBA's all-time winningest coach, died peacefully at the age of 86 on August 9, surrounded by family. Nelson's career spanned 45 years, during which he won five championships as a player for the Boston Celtics and later became a celebrated coach for several teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. He was known for his innovative strategies and deep love for the game. Tributes have poured in from former players and basketball enthusiasts acknowledging his profound impact on the sport. Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and is remembered for his unique coaching style and dedication to international players.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Don Nelson passed away on August 9, 2026.
•He spent 45 years in the NBA as a player and coach.
•Nelson won five championships with the Boston Celtics.
•He is the second-winningest coach in NBA history.
•Tributes highlight his impact on international players and coaching strategies.

Latest Updates

9:00 PMYahoo Sports — Sports media world reacts to death of NBA legend Don Nelson

What they're saying

"
Last year, Joseph Bien-Kahn penned the definitive Don Nelson profile for The Believer. In it, Nelson contemplated his mortality, as excerpted below. “Then he tells me a story,” Bien-Khan wrote. “A couple days earlier, he’d woken up early, around 4 a.m., and went out onto his patio. He was watching the stars, but then looked down…
— Yahoo Sports

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Boston Celtics Golden State Warriors Milwaukee Bucks New York Knicks NBA Basketball