Don Nelson’s memorial service in Dallas included a gesture that brought one of his most famous coaching moments rushing back.
The longtime NBA coach and Hall of Famer died at 86 on Aug. 9, and his service was held Thursday at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. In front of a packed gathering of basketball royalty, his son Donnie paid tribute by recreating the unforgettable scene that defined his father’s sideline fire, according to Jonah Javad of WFAA.
Donnie kicked a ball into the crowd, and former Mavericks guard Steve Nash came up with it. The moment echoed Don Nelson’s frustrated kick of a ball toward a referee during a Mavericks game in 2002-03 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
That kind of edge was part of what made Nelson such a singular coach. He spent 31 seasons leading the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Mavericks, and for a time he stood as the winningest coach in NBA history.
Nelson’s most memorable work in Dallas came during a stretch from 1997 to 2005, when he helped turn the Mavericks into a real contender and helped shape the careers of Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Finley. All three were at the memorial.
He later became one of the most beloved figures in the Mavericks organization. Donnie Nelson, who served as the team’s President of Basketball Operations and General Manager from 2005 to 2021, oversaw a run that included a trip to the Finals in 2006, a 67-win season in 2007, and the NBA title in 2011.
Others present included Tim Hardaway Sr., Rick Carlisle, Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, and Mark Cuban.
Nelson is survived by his wife Joy and a large blended family.
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