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Former NBA Coach and Five-Time Champion Don Nelson Dies at Age 86
Just the facts
Nelson played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning five NBA championships as a player before transitioning into coaching. Over a 30-year coaching career, he managed four franchises: the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors. He retired in 2010 as the NBA's winningest head coach with 1,335 career victories and earned three NBA Coach of the Year awards. Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and was known for introducing innovative tactical concepts such as the point forward position.
Why this is news
Former National Basketball Association player and head coach Don Nelson died on August 9, 2026, at the age of 86.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.