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DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks put out a statement on Don Nelson on Sunday afternoon. Nelson coached the team for eight seasons and served as general manager for the same stretch.
"A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten," the team said. "We mourn the passing of former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and celebrate a life that left an incredible mark on our franchise and the game of basketball. Rest in peace, Nellie."
Dallas had gone a decade without a playoff appearance when Nelson took the bench in December 1997. The Mavericks returned to the postseason in 2001 and made it in each of his remaining seasons. He coached the Western Conference in the 2002 All-Star Game.
Nelson had prostate cancer surgery on Jan. 4, 2001. He was away from the team for 21 games over roughly two months. Donnie Nelson, his son and top assistant, went 15-8 running the team in his absence. Don Nelson came back on a Tuesday night, at home, with Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers in town.
He finished 339-251 in Dallas. Nelson is the only coach in NBA history with 300 or more wins at three franchises, reaching that mark with Milwaukee, Golden State, and Dallas. Only Gregg Popovich has coached more NBA games than Nelson's 2,398, and only Popovich has won more. He passed Lenny Wilkens for the career wins lead on April 7, 2010.
Donnie Nelson took over basketball operations after his father left and ran the front office through 2021. Dallas won 60 or more games three times under him and set a franchise record with 67 in 2007. The Mavericks reached the NBA Finals twice in that span.
The organization that posted Sunday shares no leadership with the one Nelson worked for. Patrick Dumont has been governor since the December 2023 sale and added the chief executive title this year. Masai Ujiri became president of basketball operations in May, Mike Schmitz came over from Portland as general manager days later, and Dusty May took over as head coach on the night of the June 23 draft. Mark Cuban bought the team midway through Nelson's tenure and sold majority control in December 2023. He retains a minority stake and no say in operations.
Nelson played 14 seasons before he coached. The Chicago Zephyrs drafted him 17th overall in the third round in 1962. He spent one season there and two with the Lakers, then joined Boston in 1965 and stayed 11 years. He averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, scored 10,898 points, won five championships, and had his No. 19 retired by the Celtics.
Nelson lived on Maui from his 2010 retirement until moving back to Texas around the end of last year. He accepted the Naismith Legacy Award at a North Texas ceremony in June, with Dirk Nowitzki, Troy Aikman, and Darren Woodson in attendance.
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"A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten," the team said. "We mourn the passing of former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and celebrate a life that left an incredible mark on our franchise and the game of basketball. Rest in peace, Nellie."
Dallas had gone a decade without a playoff appearance when Nelson took the bench in December 1997. The Mavericks returned to the postseason in 2001 and made it in each of his remaining seasons. He coached the Western Conference in the 2002 All-Star Game.
Nelson had prostate cancer surgery on Jan. 4, 2001. He was away from the team for 21 games over roughly two months. Donnie Nelson, his son and top assistant, went 15-8 running the team in his absence. Don Nelson came back on a Tuesday night, at home, with Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers in town.
He finished 339-251 in Dallas. Nelson is the only coach in NBA history with 300 or more wins at three franchises, reaching that mark with Milwaukee, Golden State, and Dallas. Only Gregg Popovich has coached more NBA games than Nelson's 2,398, and only Popovich has won more. He passed Lenny Wilkens for the career wins lead on April 7, 2010.
Donnie Nelson took over basketball operations after his father left and ran the front office through 2021. Dallas won 60 or more games three times under him and set a franchise record with 67 in 2007. The Mavericks reached the NBA Finals twice in that span.
The organization that posted Sunday shares no leadership with the one Nelson worked for. Patrick Dumont has been governor since the December 2023 sale and added the chief executive title this year. Masai Ujiri became president of basketball operations in May, Mike Schmitz came over from Portland as general manager days later, and Dusty May took over as head coach on the night of the June 23 draft. Mark Cuban bought the team midway through Nelson's tenure and sold majority control in December 2023. He retains a minority stake and no say in operations.
Nelson played 14 seasons before he coached. The Chicago Zephyrs drafted him 17th overall in the third round in 1962. He spent one season there and two with the Lakers, then joined Boston in 1965 and stayed 11 years. He averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, scored 10,898 points, won five championships, and had his No. 19 retired by the Celtics.
Nelson lived on Maui from his 2010 retirement until moving back to Texas around the end of last year. He accepted the Naismith Legacy Award at a North Texas ceremony in June, with Dirk Nowitzki, Troy Aikman, and Darren Woodson in attendance.
Continue reading...
