The Dallas Mavericks will honor Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson in their Wednesday, Nov. 18 home game against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks will celebrate the life and legacy of the former head coach and player, who also coached Golden State. The evening will bring together the Mavericks organization, the Dallas community, the NBA community, and Nelson’s family and friends. Many of them gathered at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church for a celebration of Nelson’s life in August (at least half a dozen NBA legends attended). Fort Worth’s own Leon Bridges performed River at the ceremony, while Owen Wilson shared a video tribute.
“Nellie” passed away on Aug. 9 in Frisco at the age of 86.
“Don Nelson helped change the trajectory of the Dallas Mavericks and left an imprint on this organization that remains part of who we are today,” said Mavericks CEO Rick Welts. “But Nellie’s impact went well beyond wins and losses. He had an unmistakable personality, formed relationships that lasted decades, and helped create one of the most memorable eras in Mavericks history. We look forward to celebrating him in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and uniquely Nellie.”
Welts is retiring at the end of the year after two years on the job; he’s worked with Dallas and Golden State as well.
Nelson joined the Mavericks organization in 1997 and served as the team’s general manager and head coach during the early Dirk Nowitzki-era.
As head coach, he compiled a 339-251 record and led Dallas to four consecutive playoff appearances and four straight seasons with at least 50 wins from 2000-01 through 2003-04.
Nelson is also the second all-time winningest coach in NBA history. Nelson recorded 1,335 regular-season victories during a 31-season career that included stops in Milwaukee, Golden State, New York, and Dallas. He was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, and named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history as part of the league’s 75th Anniversary celebration. Nelson won at least 250 games with Milwaukee, Dallas, and Golden State, also serving as a general manager for all three franchises.
He made the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons, reaching the conference finals four times – once with the Mavericks. Nelson never won an NBA title as a coach.
Nelson is considered an offensive innovator who introduced unconventional lineups. He also coached Steve Nash and Michael Finley. Nelson also won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics.
Nelson’s family did not announce where he died or provide a cause.
The Mavericks are currently 4-2, seventh in the Western Conference. The Warriors are 3-3 (10th). Dallas will play winless Sacramento, the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs, a rematch with the Indiana Pacers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Celtics before “Nellie Night.”
