Before his second career as a coach, where he notably helped jumpstart the careers of Dirk Nowitzki and Steph Curry, the 6-foot-6 Nelson starred for the Celtics. Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame coach who spent one season at the helm for the Knicks, has died. He served as the Bucks’ head coach until 1988, winning Coach of the Year twice — in 1983 and 1985 — and guiding Milwaukee to at least 50 wins across seven consecutive seasons. The Knicks hired him as their Pat Riley successor for the 1995-96 season, but Nelson was fired after just 59 games. Don Nelson won five NBA championships as a player with the Celtics.