Updated 1h ago · Sports
Hall of Famer Don Nelson, NBA coaching pioneer, dies at 86.
Don Nelson died Sunday, Aug. 9, surrounded by family. He was 86. His family announced the death and did not give a cause.
- 1,335 career wins rank second all-time among NBA coaches.
- Five championship rings came as a Boston Celtics player, 1966–1976.
- Three Coach of the Year awards: 1983, 1985, and 1992.
- He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Why it matters: Nelson built his coaching identity around smaller lineups, floor spacing, and a volume of 3-pointers that the league considered excessive at the time.
- He developed Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas and oversaw Steve Nash's early career before Nash moved to Phoenix.
- Gregg Popovich passed Nelson's win total in 2022; Nelson had held the record since April 7, 2010.
How 24 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
24 sources · 38 articles · 38% Left coverage
Center coverage, 9 sources: The center frames Nelson primarily as a tactical visionary whose style transformed the modern game.
USA Today10hBasketball world pays tribute to Hall of Famer Don Nelson
Heavy2hWarriors’ Run TMC Make Emotional Statements Following Don Nelson’s Passing
Newsweek4hNBA commissioner Adam Silver releases statement on Don Nelson's passing
Associated Press8hReaction to the death of Don Nelson, the NBA's second-winningest coach
Reuters7hMuere a los 86 años Nelson, entrenador miembro del Salón de la Fama y campeón de la NBA como jugadorCNCTV News7hDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
ESPN9hNelson, second-winningest NBA coach, dies at 86SNScripps News10hDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
TMZ11hNBA Legend Don Nelson Dead at 86, Family AnnouncesLeft9 sources
BosBoston.com9hDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
CBS News8hDon Nelson, former NBA coach and 5-time champion as a player, dies at 86
CNN10hDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86
Los Angeles Times10hDon Nelson, second on NBA all-time coaching win list, has diedSFCSan Francisco Chronicle11hFormer Warriors head coach Don Nelson, No. 2 in NBA wins, dead at 86TBGThe Boston Globe9hDon Nelson, Celtics legend and 'Nellie Ball' innovator, dies at 86
The Guardian10hDon Nelson, legendary coach and five-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86
The Independent7hNBA Hall of Famer and coaching legend Don Nelson dies at 86
The New York Times7hDon Nelson, Hall of Fame N.B.A. Coach and Celtics Star, Dies at 86
CBS News8hDon Nelson, former NBA coach and 5-time champion as a player, dies at 86CNN10hDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86Los Angeles Times10hDon Nelson, second on NBA all-time coaching win list, has diedSFCSan Francisco Chronicle11hFormer Warriors head coach Don Nelson, No. 2 in NBA wins, dead at 86TBGThe Boston Globe9hDon Nelson, Celtics legend and 'Nellie Ball' innovator, dies at 86The Guardian10hDon Nelson, legendary coach and five-time NBA champion as player, dies at 86The Independent7hNBA Hall of Famer and coaching legend Don Nelson dies at 86The New York Times7hDon Nelson, Hall of Fame N.B.A. Coach and Celtics Star, Dies at 86Right coverage, 6 sources: The right frames Nelson as an elder statesman of the sport, emphasizing his championship pedigree and record win total.
New York Post2hDon Nelson was reason Steph Curry ended up on Warriors
NTD4hDon Nelson, Second-Winningest NBA Coach Who Won 5 Titles as Celtics Player, Dies at 86
Citizen Free Press6hNBA coaching legend Don Nelson passes away at 86.
Daily Mail11hLegendary NBA coach and five-time champion dies aged 86
Fox News11hBasketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson dead at 86
The Epoch Times1dDon Nelson, Second-Winningest NBA Coach Who Won 5 Titles as a Celtics Player, Dies at 86What’s next: No cause of death has been disclosed by his family.
- Will the NBA or any of his former franchises hold a formal public tribute?
- How will historians weigh a Hall of Fame career that never included an NBA Finals appearance?