NBA Hall of Famer and Coaching Pioneer Don Nelson Dies at 86

Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson has died at the age of 86, his family announced. The former NBA player, coach and executive was surrounded by loved ones. Nelson won five NBA championships as a Boston Celtics player and later became one of the league's most influential coaches. He retired in 2010 with 1,335 regular-season coaching wins, a record later surpassed by Gregg Popovich. Known for the fast-paced, small-ball approach called “Nellie Ball,” Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. He won three Coach of the Year awards and helped shape the modern NBA despite never winning a championship as a coach. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. The Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey in recognition of his contribution as a player.

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