The NBA community lost a legend on Sunday, as Don Nelson, a former player, coach, and executive, passed away at the age of 86.
Nelson's impact on the sport is undeniable. He was a pioneer in implementing a fast-paced style of basketball that favored small lineups and perimeter shooting. This approach, which he used with the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, has become the standard in modern basketball.
Nelson's legacy extends to the Dallas Mavericks, a team he coached from 1997 to 2005. His son, Donnie, was the Mavs' general manager in 2018 when they made the draft-day trade that brought them the rights to Luka Doncic.
Doncic took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the passing of the elder Nelson. He wrote, "It's a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson. I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I'm grateful for the time I spent with him."
The elder Nelson had a complicated history with the Mavericks. In 2025, the team traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that Nelson strongly opposed. He wore a pair of Doncic's Nike sneakers to a press conference and called the trade a "tremendous mistake."
Nelson's playing career was marked by his time with the Boston Celtics, where he won five NBA championships. He played with the Lakers during the 1963-64 and 1964-65 seasons, and his most notable moment with the team came in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, when he hit a late shot that helped give Boston its 11th world title in 13 years.
Nelson's legacy continues to be felt in the basketball world. His innovative approach to the game paved the way for modern teams, and his influence can be seen in the way teams now prioritize perimeter shooting and small lineups.
The basketball world is mourning the loss of a true legend. Don Nelson may be gone, but his impact on the sport will be remembered for generations to come.
Luka Doncic, the player who was traded by the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025, has been paying tribute to the late Don Nelson. The Mavericks organization has yet to make a statement on the passing of Nelson, who coached the team from 1997 to 2005.
Source: Yahoo Sports