Boston Celtics legend Don Nelson has died at 86.
The news was announced on Sunday, and Nelson’s family later released a statement, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“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. Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories,” said the family, per Stein's account on X, formerly Twitter.
Nelson spent 11 seasons with Boston from 1965-1976, helping the franchise capture five NBA titles. The Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey, which now hangs in the TD Garden rafters.
After his playing days ended, Nelson built a decorated coaching career across the league, leading the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors.
He once owned the NBA’s all-time wins record for a head coach, finishing with 1,333 victories. He passed Lenny Wilkens in 2010 and held the mark for 12 years before Gregg Popovich moved past him in 2022.
Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Before the NBA, he was a standout at Iowa, and he was drafted in the third round of the 1962 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zyphers. As a small forward, he became a major piece of Boston’s dominant run in the 1960s and 70s, then matched that success with a coaching résumé that stood among the league’s best.
It’s still unclear what kind of tribute the Celtics will put together for him.
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