The Golden State Warriors will honor the legacy of former head coach Don Nelson by wearing a special patch on their uniforms during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. The patch, which will read “NELLIE,” was announced by the team on Wednesday.
Nelson, who passed away on August 9, had two distinct coaching tenures with the Warriors: from 1988 to 1995 and again from 2006 to 2010. During his combined time leading the franchise, he accumulated 422 regular-season victories. His leadership also guided the Warriors to six playoff appearances and three trips to the Western Conference Finals.
Prior to his impactful work with the Warriors, Nelson also had a successful coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks. From November 1976 to May 1987, he led the Bucks to a 540-344 record.
Nelson’s coaching achievements placed him among the league's all-time leaders. In 2010, he became the NBA's winningest coach, a title he held until 2022 when Gregg Popovich surpassed his total of 1,335 regular-season victories.
While Nelson never captured an NBA championship as a coach, one of his most memorable moments occurred in 2007. His “We Believe” Warriors team achieved a significant upset by eliminating the 67-win Dallas Mavericks from the playoffs. This marked the first time an eighth-seeded team had defeated a top-seeded team in a seven-game playoff series, with the Warriors achieving the largest game differential by a team in such a playoff upset.
Nelson's influence on the Warriors extended to their future dynasty. In 2009, he strongly recommended drafting Stephen Curry with the seventh overall pick. This recommendation is widely credited with laying the groundwork for the franchise’s four NBA titles won in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.