Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson dies at 86

He won five titles during 11 seasons in Boston

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 91 min read

BOS

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Hall of Famer Don Nelson, three-time NBA Coach of the Year and five times a champion as a player with the Boston Celtics

What happened: Nelson's family announced his death Sunday morning. He earned three NBA Coach of the Year awards before entering the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Why it matters: Nelson's 1,335 coaching victories rank second in NBA history. He received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

By the numbers: Nelson won NBA titles with the Boston Celtics in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1976. His Coach of the Year awards came in 1983, 1985 and 1992.

What to watch: Memorial arrangements and tributes across the NBA will follow.

Sources

@TheSteinLine Aug 9, 1:26 PM ET

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Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson dies at 86

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