Don Nelson, the three-time NBA coach of the year who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, has died. He was 86.
"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," the Nelson family said in a statement relayed by Marc Stein on Twitter/X. "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories."
Nelson is the only man in NBA history with more than 1,000 wins as a coach who also won multiple championships as a player, all with the Boston Celtics (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976).
MORE: Tight end for Georgia's 1980 national championship team dies
A Michigan native, Nelson was drafted in the third round of the 1962 NBA Draft out of Iowa by the Chicago Zephyrs. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers in September 1963, and spent the next two seasons as a reserve with the Jerry West and Elgin Baylor-led Lakers.
#nelson #celtics #grandfather
"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," the Nelson family said in a statement relayed by Marc Stein on Twitter/X. "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories."
Nelson is the only man in NBA history with more than 1,000 wins as a coach who also won multiple championships as a player, all with the Boston Celtics (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976).
MORE: Tight end for Georgia's 1980 national championship team dies
A Michigan native, Nelson was drafted in the third round of the 1962 NBA Draft out of Iowa by the Chicago Zephyrs. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers in September 1963, and spent the next two seasons as a reserve with the Jerry West and Elgin Baylor-led Lakers.
#nelson #celtics #grandfather
3 months ago
