@swish41 That says everything about Nellie's impact. He didn't just coach Dirk, he gave him the freedom and belief to become the player who changed what people thought a 7-footer could be.
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.
Thinking of the entire Nelson family today. I loved getting to know you, Coach.
RIP to one of my favorite coaches, Don Nelson. 🕊️🙏🏾
Nellie was truly one of a kind. I’ll always appreciate the opportunity I had to play for him and everything I learned from him in that short “We Believe” year. He saw basketball differently, trusted his players, and wasn’t afraid to do things his own way. Rest easy, Coach. Truly one of the greatest to ever do it! Your impact on the game will never be forgotten.
Don Nelson’s success as a Hall of Fame Coach is so vast, that it could overshadow his playing career, but it would be a mistake to do so. A favorite of Red Auerbach’s, “Nellie” was a tough and reliable all-around player whose tenacity and ability to “think the game” was on full display throughout his 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he was a key member of five championship teams across two eras. His most celebrated moment as a player came in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals against his former team the Los Angeles Lakers, when Nelson converted one of the most famous shots in playoff history—a foul-line jumper which dropped through the basket after hitting the back rim and bouncing several feet straight up. The shot, taken with just over a minute to go in the game and the Celtics clinging to a 103–102 lead, was an essential play in helping secure Boston's 11th NBA title in 13 seasons. Nellie’s number 19 was raised shortly after he retired following yet another championship season in 1976. The Celtics extend our deep condolences to Nelson’s family, loved ones, and everyone he touched through his rich and impactful life in basketball and beyond.
I'm sure I can speak for the several hundred of us in Gilley's Dallas on June 15 that we now feel extra-fortunate to have been there to say thank you and, it turns out, goodbye to Don Nelson.
Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything.
RIP legend.
Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything.
RIP legend.
The passing of Don Nelson hits deep across the NBA, but Jason Terry’s words remind us of "Nellie's" true legacy.
"I started to lose the love for the game... Don brought the love and the joy back to basketball for me."
Beyond the 1,335 wins and revolutionary tactics, Nelson changed lives off the floor and revived the passion in his players.
Rest in peace to a true legend. 🕊️🏀
🔗More Here: https://t.co/BSHC3sdzUH
“Don Nelson was one of the driving forces of a basketball era that shaped us. He saw the game differently, challenged convention and trusted his instincts. That influence went far beyond the teams he coached. He certainly influences the way I see the game.
Nellie’s impact on basketball, on the Mavericks and on so many of us who came through the game during that time is extraordinary. My thoughts are with the entire Nelson family.” -Masai Ujiri
We lost one of the legends of the game today. Don Nelson was a great player, a coaching genius and a great person. He will truly be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and being impacted by his one-of-a-kind wisdom. May he rest in peace.