Don Nelson

American basketball player and coach (1940–2026) Don NelsonNelson in 2012Personal informationBorn(1940-05-15)May 15, 1940Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.DiedAugust 9, 2026(2026-08-09) (aged 86)Frisco, Texas, U.S.Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)Career informationHigh schoolRock Island(Rock Island, Illinois)CollegeIowa (1959–1962)NBA draft1962: 3rd round, 17th overall pickDrafted byChicago ZephyrsPlaying career1962–1976PositionSmall forwardNumber44, 20, 19Coaching career1976–2010Career historyPlaying1962–1963Chicago Zephyrs1963–1965Los Angeles Lakers1965–1976Boston CelticsCoaching1976Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)1976–1988Milwaukee Bucks1988–1995Golden State Warriors1995–1996New York Knicks1997–2005Dallas Mavericks2006–2010Golden State Warriors Career highlightsAs player: 5× NBA champion (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976) No. 19 retired by Boston Celtics Third-team All-American – AP, NABC, UPI (1962) As coach: 3× NBA Coach of the Year (1983, 1985, 1992) 2× NBA All-Star Game head coach (1992, 2002) Top 10 Coaches in NBA History Top 15 Coaches in NBA History Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (2025) Career playing statisticsPoints10,898 (10.3