Don Nelson, Five-Time NBA Champion and Hall of Fame Coach, Dies at 86
Don Nelson, who won five NBA titles as a Boston Celtics player and later became the league’s second-winningest coach, died on August 9, 2026, at age 86.
In short
- Don Nelson, who won five NBA titles as a Boston Celtics player and later became the league’s second-winningest coach, died on August 9, 2026, at age 86.
Don Nelson, a five-time NBA champion as a player who later became one of the league’s most influential and successful coaches, died on Sunday, August 9, 2026. He was 86.
Nelson’s family announced his death, saying he died peacefully while surrounded by relatives. The family did not disclose a cause.
A forward during a 14-season playing career, Nelson spent 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics and was part of five championship teams during the 1960s and 1970s. He moved into coaching after retiring, first as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and then as head coach beginning in the 1976-77 season.
Across 31 seasons as an NBA head coach, Nelson recorded 1,335 regular-season victories. He retired as the league’s career wins leader, a mark Gregg Popovich surpassed in March 2022. Nelson coached Milwaukee, Golden State, New York and Dallas, reached the playoffs 18 times and won the NBA Coach of the Year award three times.
Nelson became known for fast-paced, unconventional lineups and helped popularize the “point forward” role. His teams included Golden State’s high-scoring “Run TMC” group, while his work in Dallas helped develop Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. During his final coaching stint with the Warriors, he also coached Stephen Curry as a rookie.
Although Nelson never won an NBA title as a coach, his impact stretched across generations. His 2007 “We Believe” Warriors produced one of the league’s most notable playoff upsets by eliminating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
