Hall of Fame NBA coach Don Nelson passes away at 86

Don Nelson, celebrated as a Hall of Fame NBA head coach and five-time champion as a Boston Celtics player, died on Sunday at 86, his family said. The family released a statement noting his calm departure while surrounded by relatives. Nelson’s coaching record of 1,335 wins placed him second on the all-time list, later surpassed by Gregg Popovich.

His career featured leadership of the Milwaukee Bucks from 1976 to 1988, followed by a long spell with the Golden State Warriors until 1995. He briefly coached the New York Knicks during the 1995-96 season before being dismissed, then spent eight years with the Dallas Mavericks, and later returned to Golden State for four more seasons, concluding with Steph Curry’s rookie year in 2009-10.