The basketball world is mourning the death of Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson, who died Sunday. His passing has led to widespread tributes from players and coaches, particularly those associated with the Golden State Warriors, including coach Steve Kerr and star player Steph Curry.
Nelson, known as "Nellie," coached the Warriors for two stints, from 1988 to 1995 and again from 2006 to 2010. During his tenure, he led the team to the playoffs six times. In 2010, Nelson became the NBA's all-time winningest coach, a title he held until Gregg Popovich surpassed his total of 1,335 regular-season victories in 2022. Nelson finished his career with 1,335 wins, while Popovich has 1,390.
Steve Kerr, current Warriors coach, reflected on Nelson's innovative approach to the game. "Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today," Kerr stated. "He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others did not." Kerr added that much of modern NBA strategy can be traced back to Nelson's methods and that his impact on the Warriors was significant.
Steph Curry, who has had a long-standing relationship with Nelson, credited him with playing a major role in the Warriors drafting him. "The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court," Curry said. "He taught me a lot during our one season together [2009-2010], and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota."
Former Warriors player Tim Hardaway also shared his appreciation for Nelson, whom he played under twice. "Nellie believed in me from the beginning and gave me the confidence and freedom to play my game," Hardaway said. "I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the special years we shared with Run TMC." Hardaway described Nelson as being "ahead of his time" and someone who had an incredible impact on his career and the game of basketball.
Nelson's influence extended beyond his coaching statistics, with many crediting him as a visionary who significantly shaped the modern NBA.