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Don Nelson, a former NBA player and head coach who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died, his family announced on Sunday. He was 86.
Nelson played in the NBA from 1963 to 1976 and was a head coach in the league from 1977 to 2010.
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Golden State Warriors former coach Don Nelson waves to fans during the half time ceremony to retire the #17 jersey of Chris Mullin at Oracle Arena on March 19, 2012. (Kelley L Cox/US PRESSWIRE)
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” his family said in a statement, via NBA writer Marc Stein. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”
Nelson was a standout basketball player at Iowa before he was chosen in the third round of the 1962 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zephyrs. He played one season with the Zephyrs before moving on to the Los Angeles Lakers and later the Boston Celtics.
He spent more of his 14-year career with the Celtics. In 11 years with Boston, he was a member of five NBA championship teams. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 872 games with Boston.
Former general manager Don Nelson speaks to the media before game two between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
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Nelson went into coaching a year after he retired. He spent the 1976-77 season as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks before he was promoted to head coach in the 1976-77 season, replacing Larry Costello, who was let go after 18 games.
He coached the Bucks until 1987. He then coached the Golden State Warriors in two separate stints, the Dallas Mavericks and 59 games for the New York Knicks. He was awarded the NBA Coach of the Year three times and appeared on two lists of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
Don Nelson poses for a photo after receiving the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award during the first half during game two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)
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Nelson was 1,335-1,063 as a head coach. He won 540 games as a head coach of the Bucks.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
