Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors & Head Coach Chris DeMarco of the New York Liberty pose for a photo after the game on August 3, 2026. [AFP]
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, died on Sunday, his family announced. He was 86.
Nelson was a member of five NBA championship teams with Boston from 1966 to 1976 and the Celtics retired his jersey number 19.
As a coach, Nelson finished with a record of 1,335-1,063 -- what had been an NBA record until Gregg Popovich passed him in 2022 -- in stints with Golden State, Milwaukee, New York and Dallas from 1976 to 2010.
Nelson, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, never reached the NBA Finals as a coach but was remembered as a historic figure among bench bosses.
"The Golden State Warriors mourn the passing of Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson," the team said in a statement.
"'Nellie' was one of the most innovative and influential coaches in NBA history and an iconic figure in Warriors history. He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was never afraid to challenge conventional thinking. His approach helped shape the game and paved the way for generations of players and coaches who followed.