Don Nelson’s Passing Sparks Tributes From Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic

Don Nelson played in the NBA for 14 seasons, and then coached in another 31 seasons before retiring for good.

Don Nelson’s Passing Sparks Tributes From Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic

Don Nelson and Stephen Curry (Image via Warriors Talk/X)

When one talks about some of the greatest coaches to ever grace an NBA court, the name Don Nelson does pop up. After all, he was one of the rare few who transitioned to managing a team after experiencing success as a player.

In fact, long before Caitlin Clark drew the world’s attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Nelson was one of the program’s all-time greats. After playing his rookie NBA season with the then-Chicago Zephyrs, he got to play alongside legends Jerry West and Elgin Baylor on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Then, he joined the Boston Celtics as he wanted a change in scenery after playing a minor role on the Lakers. There, his role changed, and his contributions saw him help the franchise win five NBA championships.

That explains why the Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey. But what he is truly known for is creating tough, competitive teams as a coach. After retiring, he started as an assistant, but quickly became the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Two NBA Coach of the Year awards with them, and another with the Golden State Warriors in 1992, cemented his legacy as one of the best coaches in league history. After 31 years at the helm of various teams, coaching some of the best to play the game, the Michigan native amassed 1,335 regular-season victories.

After leaving the league, he has been living in Maui and enjoying the retirement life. But after 86 years on the planet, the great Don Nelson passed away. League insider Marc Stein first broke the news after he received news from the great coach’s family.

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Former players pay tribute to Don Nelson

Having coached some of the best teams in the league helped Don Nelson mentor some of the best players in the league’s history. His ‘German Son,’ Dirk Nowitzki, who the coach mentored into becoming one of the greatest of all time, was one of the first to react to the news of his death.

Along with him were Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and several others whose lives were affected in some form by the great coach. Some of those tributes that poured in on social media are listed below.

Stephen Curry's tribute
Stephen Curry’s tribute (Image via SS/IG)

From the list of players, teams, and owners lining up to give their tributes, it is evident that Don Nelson was much beloved in the league. Combined with his accomplishments, the NBA world just lost one of the all-time greats.

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Don Nelson trolled Mavericks for trading Luka Doncic

Usually, a former player or coach does not say anything bad if they have had success or a good relationship with a franchise. But not Don Nelson, who said this before the 2025 NBA Finals started.

Don Nelson during a legacy Warriors press conference
Don Nelson during a legacy Warriors press conference (Image via The Aesthetic/X)

I’m wearing Luka’s shoes. His new shoes from Nike, that just got on the market. And I’m wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas. I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him.

Don Nelson told reporters

His jovial side drew a chuckle from former Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. But this was Nelson proving that he does not care what loyalties he had with the team. He was clear that he did not appreciate them trading away franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic.

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