Three-time NBA Coach of the Year Don Nelson has died at age 86, his family announced in a statement, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter links). “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. Nelson started his NBA career as a player, spending 11 of his 14 seasons with the Celtics and winning five championships. “Don the legend; happy to be here for him,” Nowitzki said in June, when Nelson received the James Naismith Family Legacy Award in Dallas. Nelson received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association at the 2025 NBA Finals.