Dirk Nowitzki, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, NBA world mourn loss of Don Nelson

The basketball world woke up to profound grief on Sunday, as reported by The New York Times, following the death of legendary coach and player Don Nelson at the age of 86. Nelson passed away on Sunday morning, surrounded by his loving family, according to a statement released by his relatives via Aol. The family did not divulge a manner of death, noting instead that friends and family had encircled him throughout his final week to share memories and express gratitude.

Nelson's passing alters the landscape of professional basketball, robbing the sport of one of its most transformative and fearless innovators. Spanning more than five decades in the NBA, his career bridged an era of hard-nosed traditional play with the fast-paced, positionless style that dominates the modern game. From his championship-winning days as a player with the Boston Celtics to his revolutionary coaching stints across the league, Nelson left an indelible mark that current stars, executives, and former colleagues rushed to honor.

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Tributes poured across social media and official club channels as figures like Dirk Nowitzki, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver reflected on his towering legacy. Nowitzki credited Nelson with laying the foundation for his entire Hall of Fame career. In a post on X, the German icon thanked his first NBA coach for drafting him, believing in his abilities before he recognized them himself, and granting him the freedom to develop his unique style of play.

That visionary eye for international talent was also highlighted by Luka Dončić. Though Dončić did not play under Nelson in Dallas, the guard expressed immense respect for the coach's advocacy and belief in international players. Nelson's front-office maneuvering in Dallas during the late 1990s and early 2000s remains the stuff of franchise legend, highlighted by the draft-night acquisition of Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

Stephen Curry shared similar sentiments regarding his time under Nelson with the Golden State Warriors. Curry recalled that Nelson challenged him from day one and provided the rookie guard with the platform to succeed, ultimately guiding him during the season Nelson broke the all-time coaching victories record in Minnesota. Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted that Nelson consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with unconventional lineups, and pioneered styles of play that are now commonplace across the Association.

Born into basketball lore, Nelson's own playing career is often overshadowed by his coaching success, though Aol notes that doing so would be a mistake. A standout at Iowa where he averaged strong numbers across three seasons, Nelson entered the league as a high draft pick with the Chicago Zephyrs before a two-season stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. He found his true home with the Boston Celtics, capturing five NBA titles under Red Auerbach. Known as a tough and reliable all-around player whose jersey No. 19 was eventually retired by Boston, Nelson transitioned smoothly from the parquet floor to the bench.

As a head coach, Nelson managed four different franchises across 31 seasons, most notably the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks, alongside a brief tenure with the New York Knicks. His fast-paced offensive philosophy and reliance on smaller, highly athletic players became affectionately known as "Nellie Ball." He secured three NBA Coach of the Year awards—two of them during a run of seven consecutive division titles with Milwaukee in the 1980s—and collected 13 seasons featuring 50 or more wins. When he retired in 2010, he held the record for regular-season coaching victories with 1,335, a milestone later surpassed by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Nelson was subsequently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach and received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised Nelson's fearlessness and ingenuity in an official league statement, emphasizing that his unmistakable personality will continue to influence generations of athletes and coaches. Organizations from Milwaukee to San Francisco echoed those thoughts, celebrating a true original whose winning culture and authenticity reshaped multiple franchises.

Don Nelson's Coaching Career at a Glance

• Milwaukee Bucks: 11 seasons, featuring two Coach of the Year awards and seven consecutive division titles in the 1980s.
• Golden State Warriors: Two separate stints totaling 11 seasons, coaching the high-scoring "Run TMC" trio and mentoring a young Stephen Curry.
• Dallas Mavericks: 8 seasons, instrumental in acquiring franchise cornerstone Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.
• New York Knicks: Coached the 1995-96 campaign.