Editing Don Nelson

{{Short description|American NBA player and head coach}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Don Nelson
| image = Don Nelson.jpg
| width = 250px
|alt = Nelson smiling, wearing a suit
| caption = Nelson in 2012
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 210
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|05|15}}
| birth_place = [[Muskegon, Michigan]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Rock Island High School|Rock Island]] ([[Rock Island, Illinois]])
| college = [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|Iowa]] (1959–1962)
| draft_year = 1962
| draft_round = 3
| draft_pick = 17
| draft_team = [[Chicago Zephyrs]]
| career_start = 1962
| career_end = 1976
| career_number = 44, 20, 19
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| coach_start = 1976
| coach_end = 2010
| years1 = {{nbay|1962|full=y}}
| team1 = [[Chicago Zephyrs]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1963|start}}–{{nbay|1964|end}}
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| years3 = {{nbay|1965|start}}–{{nbay|1975|end}}
| team3 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| cyears1 = {{nbay|1976|start}}
| cteam1 = [[Milwaukee Bucks]] (assistant)
| cyears2 = 1976–{{nbay|1987|end}}
| cteam2 = Milwaukee Bucks
| cyears3 = {{nbay|1988|start}}–{{nbay|1994|end}}
| cteam3 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| cyears4 = {{nbay|1995|full=y}}
| cteam4 = [[New York Knicks]]
| cyears5 = {{nbay|1997|start}}–{{nbay|2004|end}}
| cteam5 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| cyears6 = {{nbay|2006|start}}–{{nbay|2009|end}}
| cteam6 = Golden State Warriors
| highlights = 
'''As player:'''
* 5× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ([[1966 NBA Finals|1966]], [[1968 NBA Finals|1968]], [[1969 NBA Finals|1969]], [[1974 NBA Finals|1974]], [[1976 NBA Finals|1976]])
* No. 19 [[List of Boston Celtics accomplishments and records#Retired numbers|retired by Boston Celtics]]
* Third-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] – [[Associated Press|AP]], [[National Association of Basketball Coaches|NABC]], [[United Press International|UPI]] ([[1962 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1962]])
'''As coach:'''
* 3× [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] ([[1982–83 NBA season|1983]], [[1984–85 NBA season|1985]], [[1991–92 NBA season|1992]])
* 2× [[List of NBA All-Star Game head coaches|NBA All-Star Game head coach]] ([[1992 NBA All-Star Game|1992]], [[2002 NBA All-Star Game|2002]]) 
* [[Top 10 Coaches in NBA History]]
* [[Top 15 Coaches in NBA History]]
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 10,898 (10.3 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 5,192 (4.9 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 1,526 (1.4 apg)
| cstats_league1 = NBA
| cwin1 = 1335
| closs1 = 1063
| HOF_coach = don-nelson
|medal_templates =
{{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|United States}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA World Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1994 FIBA World Championship|1994 Toronto]] | Team competition}}
}}
'''Donald Arvid Nelson''' (born May 15, 1940) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nelsodo01.html|title=Don Nelson Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref> and head coach. Nelson is second all-time in regular season wins of any coach in [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] history, with 1,335 (he held the record for most wins for almost 12 years before he was surpassed by [[Gregg Popovich]] in 2022). He coached the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], the [[New York Knicks]], the [[Dallas Mavericks]], and the [[Golden State Warriors]]. After an [[All-America]]n career at the [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|University of Iowa]], Nelson won five NBA championships playing with the [[Boston Celtics]], with his number 19 retired by the franchise in 1978.

His unique brand of basketball is often referred to as "[[Nellie Ball]]". A coaching innovator, Nelson is credited with, among other things, pioneering the concept of the [[point forward]], a tactic which is frequently employed by teams at every level today. He was named one of the [[NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team#Coaches|Top 10 coaches]] in NBA history.

On April 7, 2010, Nelson passed [[Lenny Wilkens]] for first place on the all-time NBA wins list with his 1,333rd career win.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20100411224726/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300407016 Nelson sets NBA career victories mark in Warriors' defeat of Wolves']". Associated Press. April 7, 2010.</ref> His all-time record coaching record is 1,335–1,063 (.557). He was inducted into the [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/don-nelson/|title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Don Nelson|website=www.hoophall.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>

==Early life==
Donald Arvid Nelson was born on May 15, 1940, in [[Muskegon, Michigan]], to Arvid and Agnes Nelson. Nelson grew up with his family and two sisters on his grandfather's rural Illinois farm near [[Sherrard, Illinois]]. He first learned basketball shooting in the chicken yard where a spokeless bicycle wheel was nailed to the shed to make a basket. Nelson attended a one-room, six-grade, seven-student school. When his family lost the farm, the Nelsons moved to nearby [[Rock Island, Illinois]], while Don was in middle school. His father Arvid eventually worked at the [[Rock Island Arsenal]].<ref name="mercurynews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/02/10/trying-season-makes-golden-state-warriors-coach-don-nelson-feels-even-older-at-69/|title = Trying season makes Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson feels even older at 69|date = 10 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">03/02/2003, BRAD TOWNSEND, The Dallas Morning News</ref>

Nelson attended [[Rock Island High School]], in Rock Island, one of the [[Quad Cities]]. The Nelsons lived in downtown Rock Island on 19th street and Don would walk to school, stopping to shoot baskets at several different locations along the way. Nelson would go to the YMCA after practice and shoot more.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/rock-island-grad-nelson-surprises-old-friends-with-nba-record/article_c979b702-41f9-11df-9e4a-001cc4c03286.html|title=Rock Island grad Nelson surprises old friends with NBA record run|first=Don|last=Doxsie|website=The Quad-City Times|date=7 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/college/big-10/iowa/rocky-s-nelson-to-get-iowa-degree-after-years/article_b80896ba-9732-11e1-995c-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Rocky's Nelson to get Iowa degree after 50 years|date=6 May 2012 }}</ref>

Graduating in 1958, Nelson led the Rocks to a 47–7 record in his last two years under coach Bob Riley. He had 39 points and 20 rebounds against [[Moline High School]] and 30 points and 29 rebounds against No. 1-ranked [[Ottawa Township High School|Ottawa High School]]. As a junior, Nelson averaged 12.6 points as Rock Island finished 25–3. As a senior, Nelson averaged 20.2 points, leading the Rocks to a 22–4 record in 1957–58.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/don-nelson-s-basketball-career-highlights/article_8274d9f2-9735-11e1-b591-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Don Nelson's basketball career highlights|website=The Quad-City Times|date=5 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://athletics.rimsd41.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=858090&type=d&pREC_ID=1221398|title=YEAR BY YEAR SEASON RECORDS – Boys' Basketball – Rock Island - Milan Athletics|website=athletics.rimsd41.org}}</ref>

After his senior year in high school, Nelson wasn't heavily recruited. His father did not see a future for Don in basketball and wanted him to become a watch repairman. [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|University of Iowa]] Coach [[Sharm Scheuerman]], who had graduated from Rock Island in 1952, recruited Nelson, who ultimately chose the Hawkeyes over [[Wheaton College (Illinois)|Wheaton College]] and Nelson's hometown [[Augustana College (Illinois)|Augustana College]].<ref name="desmoinesregister.com">{{cite web|url=http://data.desmoinesregister.com/hall-of-fame/single.php?id=469|title=Register Sports Hall of Fame Database - Don Nelson - DesMoinesRegister.com|website=data.desmoinesregister.com}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==College career==
As a 6'6" sophomore under coach Schuerman at Iowa, Nelson averaged a [[double-double]] of 15.8 points and 10.0 rebounds, as Iowa finished 14–10 in 1959–1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1960.html|title=1959-60 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref>
[[File:Don Nelson 1962.jpg|thumb|left|Nelson playing for Iowa, {{circa}} 1962]]

In the era when NCAA freshman weren't allowed to play varsity, Nelson was joined on the Iowa campus by future [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Connie Hawkins]] in 1960. However, after playing for the freshman Iowa team in 1960–1961, Hawkins was embroiled in the [[1961 NCAA University Division men's basketball gambling scandal|1961 college basketball gambling scandal]] and left Iowa. Hawkins was never charged with a crime and was later reinstated by the NBA, who had banned him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/000707hawkins.html|title=Connie Hawkins: Flying Outside|last=Flatter|first=Ron|date=August 31, 2000|website=ESPN|access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref>

"If Connie had stayed, we would have had a great team," Nelson said. "I feel we could have edged out Ohio State my junior and senior years."<ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>

In [[1960–61 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|1960–1961]], Nelson averaged 23.8 points and 10.6 rebounds as Iowa finished second in the [[Big Ten Conference]] with an 18–6 record. A mass academic eligibility issue hit the team, as the other four starters were declared academically ineligible at semester, leaving Nelson as the only starter remaining. With Nelson carrying the team, Iowa rallied around him and finished 2nd in the Big 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1961.html|title=1960-61 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>

As a senior in [[1961–62 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|1961–1962]], Nelson averaged 23.8 points and 11.9 rebounds as the Hawkeyes finished 13–11.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iowa/1962.html|title=1961-62 Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref>

In Nelson's years at Iowa, the Big Ten conference was full of future NBA players. Among others, Ohio State had future [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] players in [[John Havlicek]] and [[Jerry Lucas]], along with [[Larry Siegfried]]. Indiana had a future Hall of Fame inductee in [[Walt Bellamy]], while Purdue had future NBA All-Star [[Terry Dischinger]].

"It was a terrific training ground for the pros," Nelson said. "So many of them became stars."<ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>

"It's an overused phrase, but the tougher the game got, the tougher Don played," Scheuerman said of Nelson. "He always had a lot of savvy. Don did some things you just can't coach. Some players have the body, but aren't mentally tough. Others are mentally tough, but don't have the body. Don had both."<ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>

"I felt more responsibility and my teammates expected me to carry a bigger portion of the load," Nelson said of his Iowa career. "I still look back at that time as one of the highlights of my whole career. Sharm did a terrific job coaching and we played some terrific basketball."<ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>

"What I remember most about it is playing for Sharm and our relationship over 50 years and how close we were and how much I loved that man," Nelson reflected in 2012 of Scheuerman, who died in 2010. "A role model certainly, but I could never duplicate that man's life because he was so special. I certainly tried. I'm certainly a better person just by knowing him and talking to him. But we spent a lot of time together over the last 50 years."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.com/2012/05/11/nba-legend-don-nelsons-50-year-quest-for-iowa-diploma-ends-saturday|title=NBA legend Don Nelson's 50-year quest for Iowa diploma ends Saturday|first=Scott|last=Dochterman|website=The Gazette}}</ref>

Overall, Nelson averaged 21.1 points (1,522) and 10.9 rebounds (784) in his 72-game Iowa career. He left Iowa as the program's all-time leading scorer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/don-nelson-1.html|title=Don Nelson College Stats|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963)===
After his career at Iowa, Nelson was selected as the 17th draft pick in the [[1962 NBA draft]] by the [[Chicago Zephyrs]] of the NBA.

As a rookie, Nelson averaged 17 minutes, playing alongside [[Walt Bellamy]] (27.9 points), [[Terry Dischinger]] (25.5 points), [[Si Green]] and [[Charlie Hardnett]]. Zephyrs Coach [[Jack McMahon]] was replaced by player [[Slick Leonard]] halfway through the season as Chicago finished 25–55. The Chicago Zephyrs moved to become the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]] (today's Washington Wizards) after the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHZ/1963.html|title=1962-63 Chicago Zephyrs Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Nelson played for the Zephyrs for one season averaging 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17 minutes. Nelson was then acquired by the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in 1963.

===Los Angeles Lakers (1963–1965)===
On September 6, 1963, Nelson was claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers from the Chicago Zephyrs. He played in 80 games in 1963–1964, but just 39 in 1964–1965 under coach [[Fred Schaus]].<ref name="basketball-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nelsodo01.html|title=Don Nelson Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In 1963–1964, Nelson played 80 games and averaged 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17 minutes for the Lakers, as Los Angeles finished 42–38. He saw his first playoff action, as the Lakers were defeated by the [[St. Louis Hawks]] (today's Atlanta Hawks), with [[Bob Pettit]], [[Cliff Hagan]] and [[Lenny Wilkens]] 3–2. Nelson averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1964-nba-western-division-semifinals-lakers-vs-hawks.html|title=1964 NBA Western Division Semifinals - Los Angeles Lakers vs. St. Louis Hawks|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1964.html|title=1963-64 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In 1964–1965, Nelson played little, averaging 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in just six minutes per game in 39 games. The Lakers used Nelson more in the playoffs as they defeated Nelson's former team, the Baltimore Bullets in the playoffs 4–2. Nelson averaged 5.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the series. The Lakers then faced the Boston Celtics in the [[1965 NBA Finals]]. The Lakers lost to the Celtics 4–1, as Nelson averaged 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists and 20 minutes in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1965-nba-finals-lakers-vs-celtics.html|title=1965 NBA Finals - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="basketball-reference.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1965.html|title=1964-65 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1965-nba-western-division-finals-bullets-vs-lakers.html|title=1965 NBA Western Division Finals - Baltimore Bullets vs. Los Angeles Lakers|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

After two seasons with the Lakers, where he averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13 minutes playing alongside [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] [[Elgin Baylor]] and [[Jerry West]], Nelson left Los Angeles.<ref name="basketball-reference.com1"/><ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

===Boston Celtics (1965–1976)===
After playing against them the season before in the NBA Finals, Nelson was signed as a free agent by the [[Boston Celtics]] on October 28, 1965.<ref name="basketball-reference.com1"/><ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

In his first season with Boston and coach [[Red Auerbach]], Nelson averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, helping the Celtics to the [[1966 NBA Finals|1966 NBA Championship]] over the Lakers. Nelson became a [[sixth man]] off the bench for Boston, playing alongside [[Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] [[Bill Russell]], [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]], [[Satch Sanders]], John Havlicek and [[KC Jones]], as well as Larry Siegfried, [[Willie Naulls]] and [[Mel Counts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1966.html|title=1965-66 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Four more championships with Boston followed in [[1968 NBA Finals|1968]], [[1969 NBA Finals|1969]], [[1974 NBA Finals|1974]], and [[1976 NBA Finals|1976]].

In 1967–1968, Nelson was one of seven Celtics to average in double figures, as the Celtics finished 54–28 under player/coach Bill Russell. Nelson joined Russell, Havlicek, [[Bailey Howell]], Sam Jones, Sanders and Siegfried in double digit scoring. The Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2 in the [[1968 NBA Finals]] to capture the NBA Championship. In the 1968 NBA Finals, Nelson averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1968-nba-finals-lakers-vs-celtics.html|title=1968 NBA Finals - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1968.html|title=1967-68 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In 1968–1969, Nelson averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds as Boston finished 48–34 under Russell. They defeated the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] 4–1 and the [[New York Knicks]] 4–2 to advance to the NBA finals, where again they faced the Lakers. In Game 7 of the [[1969 NBA Finals]], against his former team, 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, helped secure Boston's 11th NBA title in 13 seasons and Nelson's third title with the Celtics.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.celticsblog.com/2016/9/19/12965170/don-nelson-the-boston-celtics-unlikely-multiple-time-champion|title=Don Nelson: the Celtics' unlikely multiple-time champion|first=Professor|last=Parquet|date=19 September 2016|website=CelticsBlog}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1969.html|title=1968-69 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

[[File:Don nelson celtics.jpg|thumb|Nelson with the Boston Celtics, {{circa}} 1970–76]]

In 1973–1974, after rebuilding, the Celtics finished 56–26 under coach [[Tommy Heinsohn]], as Nelson averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 21.3 minutes at age 33. Nelson and Havlicek were now joined by [[Jo Jo White]], [[Dave Cowens]], [[Paul Westphal]], [[Paul Silas]] and [[Don Chaney]] on the roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1974.html|title=1973-74 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In the first playoff round against the [[Buffalo Braves]] (today's Los Angeles Clippers), Nelson scored over 20 points three times, averaging 15.7 points in the Celtics' a 4–2 series victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1974-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-braves-vs-celtics.html|title=1974 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - Buffalo Braves vs. Boston Celtics|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, Nelson scored 23 points in a game 2 win, averaging 15 points in the 4–1 series victory. The Knicks had beaten the Celtics in the playoffs the previous two seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1974-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-celtics.html|title=1974 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=2019-04-22|archive-date=2021-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028235916/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1974-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-celtics.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[1974 NBA Finals]], the Celtics faced the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], with [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]], [[Oscar Robertson]] and [[Bobby Dandridge]]. In game seven at Milwaukee, Nelson started over Silas and played a key part in double-teaming Abdul-Jabbar. He scored six points in 17 minutes as Boston had a 13-point halftime lead and won 102–87, securing their 4th NBA Championship with Nelson.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1974-nba-finals-celtics-vs-bucks.html|title=1974 NBA Finals - Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197405120MIL.html|title=Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, May 12, 1974|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Nelson played his last season in 1975–1976, and won his 5th NBA Championship as Boston defeated the [[Phoenix Suns]] in the [[1976 NBA Finals]] 4–2. Nelson averaged 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in the regular season and 9.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in the playoffs.<ref name="basketball-reference.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1976.html|title=1975-76 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

===Career totals===
Nelson averaged more than 10 points per game every season between 1968–69 and 1974–75 (before the introduction of the three-point shot). He led the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1974–75 at age 34, the oldest and shortest player to do so. Nelson was coined as one of the best "sixth men" ever to play in the NBA. He was also known for his distinctive one-handed style for shooting free throws. He would place the ball in his shooting hand, lean in almost off-balance and toe the free-throw line with his right foot and his left leg trailing. He would then push the ball toward the basket completely with his right hand while springing with his right knee and lifting the trailing foot in a sort of "hop".<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

Nelson retired as a player following the 1975–76 season. His number 19 jersey was retired to the [[Boston Garden]] rafters in 1978. In 872 games with Boston over 11 seasons, Nelson averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.<ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

Overall, in 1053 career NBA games, Nelson averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.6 minutes, shooting 48.4% from the floor and 76.9% from the line. In 150 career playoff games, Nelson averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.4 minutes, shooting 49.8% from the floor and 81.9% from the line.<ref name="basketball-reference.com"/>

==Coaching and executive career (1976–2010)==
===Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1988)===
After his career ended, Nelson's son Donnie remembers the family sitting in a Maid Rite restaurant in [[Moline, Illinois]], and Don saying he had three choices: sell cars, become an NBA referee, or accept an assistant's job under Milwaukee coach Larry Costello. They voted 5–0 for the Milwaukee job, which paid $25,000.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Nelson began his coaching career as an assistant with the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in 1976. After a 3–15 start to the season, [[Larry Costello]] resigned and Nelson was named Head Coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/23/archives/costello-and-embry-quit-bucks-nelson-is-coach.html|title=Costello and Quit Bucks|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 November 1976}}</ref> A year later he became General Manager of the Bucks and soon began to show what would later become his signature style of wheeling and dealing players. Nelson made his first trade in 1977 by sending [[Swen Nater]] to the [[Buffalo Braves]] and turned the draft pick he received into [[Marques Johnson]], who had a solid career with the Bucks. On November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, Nelson managed the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA history. With Milwaukee down twenty-nine points to Atlanta, on the road, and with only 8:43 remaining, the Bucks went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation. At the time, there was no three-point field goal.

In 1980, he sent off an underachieving [[Kent Benson]] to the [[Detroit Pistons]] for [[Bob Lanier]]. Perhaps his most publicized deal came before the 1984–85 season when he dealt Johnson, [[Junior Bridgeman]], [[Harvey Catchings]], and cash to the [[Los Angeles Clippers#1978–1984: San Diego Clippers|San Diego Clippers]] for [[Terry Cummings]], [[Craig Hodges]], and [[Ricky Pierce]]. And, in 1986, he would deal [[Alton Lister]] to the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] for [[Jack Sikma]].

Taking over a Bucks team in the aftermath of [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]'s departure to Los Angeles, Nelson was able to improve their win total by 14 games in his first full season as head coach, and established the team as a legitimate championship contender by 1980. It was in Milwaukee where Nelson became known for his unorthodox, innovative basketball philosophy. He pioneered the concept of the [[point forward]] – a tactic wherein small forwards are used to direct the offense. In Nelson's tenure with the Bucks, he used 6–5 [[small forward]] [[Paul Pressey]] for the role.<ref name=aschburner>{{cite news|last=Aschburner |first=Steve |title=LeBron a point forward? Well, he wouldn't be the first |date=December 21, 2010 |work=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/12/15/point-forward/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422023643/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/12/15/point-forward/index.html |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This enabled Nelson to field shooting guards [[Sidney Moncrief]] and [[Craig Hodges]] or [[Ricky Pierce]] at the same time without worrying about who would run the offense. In his offensive half-court sets, he would also put a center who wasn't a threat on offense, like Lister or [[Randy Breuer]], at mid-court instead of near the basket to keep a shot-blocking center like the [[Utah Jazz]]'s [[Mark Eaton]] away from the basket to make him less of a threat on defense.

This system, known as "[[Nellie Ball]]", created a lot of mismatches and enabled Nelson to lead the Bucks to seven straight Central Division championships with over 50 wins in each of those seasons. He earned [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] honors in 1983 and 1985. For seven straight years, finishing no worse than second best in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks ended up being eliminated in the playoffs by either the [[Larry Bird]]-led [[Boston Celtics]] or the [[Julius Erving]]-led [[Philadelphia 76ers]]. After the 1986–87 season, which included some controversy and distraction before Game 4 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics where Nelson told the local sports media that he didn't expect to be back once the season concluded due to a rift with Bucks owner [[Herb Kohl]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/27/Don-Nelson-resigned-as-coach-of-the-Milwaukee-Bucks/6691549086400/|title=Don Nelson resigned as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks...|website=UPI}}</ref>

On May 27, 1987, Nelson resigned as head coach of the Bucks. In 11 seasons, Nelson had a 540–344 (.611) record with Milwaukee.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/nelsodo01c.html|title=Don Nelson}}</ref>

===Golden State Warriors (1988–1995)===
Nelson did part-time work as a color analyst for NBA games on [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]] during the 1987–88 season. During the season he was contacted by the [[Dallas Mavericks]], [[Golden State Warriors]], and [[New York Knicks]] with offers to coach their teams. Nelson decided to go with Golden State, at first buying a minority stake in the team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/29/Former-Milwaukee-Bucks-coach-Don-Nelson-has-begun-the/9240549259200/|title=Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Don Nelson has begun the...|website=UPI}}</ref> before being named head coach and vice president after one season away from the NBA.

In Golden State, he instilled a "[[Run and gun (basketball)|run-and-gun]]" style of offense. Again using an unconventional lineup which featured three guards ([[Mitch Richmond]], [[Tim Hardaway]] and [[Šarūnas Marčiulionis|Sarunas Marciulionis]]) and two forwards ([[Chris Mullin (basketball)|Chris Mullin]] and the 6'8" [[Rod Higgins]] at [[Center (basketball)|center]]), he coached the Warriors to a 23-game turnaround of their previous season and back into the playoffs with his lineup popularly known as [[Run TMC]], for Tim, Mitch and Chris. All three were later elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] after their careers. Nelson was named NBA Coach of the Year a third time after the 1991–92 season.

Nelson continued to retool the team, drafting All-Star [[Latrell Sprewell]] in 1992. Nelson traded the Warriors' number 3 pick [[Penny Hardaway]] to the [[Orlando Magic]] for their number one overall pick [[Chris Webber]] during the [[1993 NBA draft]]. Despite Webber averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and winning the 1994 [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] Award, he found himself at odds with Nelson's preference to play him at center rather than [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]]. Frequently clashing with one another, Webber threatened to use the out-clause in his contract if he wasn't traded. Nelson reportedly offered to resign rather than let the team trade away their young star, but nonetheless Webber was dealt to the [[Washington Bullets]] on November 7, 1994, for [[Tom Gugliotta]] and three future 1st round draft picks (1996, 1998 and 2000).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nbatrades.tumblr.com/post/31341194366/warriors-trade-chris-webber-to-bullets-for-tom|title = Warriors trade Chris Webber to Bullets for Tom Gugliotta}}</ref>

Nelson resigned as head coach of the Warriors on February 13, 1995. He made the playoffs with Golden State in four of his six seasons there. Subsequently, the Warriors did not qualify for the playoffs for the next 12 seasons, until he returned to the team in 2006.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Team USA: "Dream Team II" (1994)===
In 1994, Nelson coached the [[United States men's national basketball team|Team USA]] national basketball team at the [[1994 FIBA World Championship]] in Toronto, and led them to the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/sid/2913/tid/379/_/1994_World_Championship_for_Men_/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212032046/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/sid/2913/tid/379/_/1994_World_Championship_for_Men_/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2009 |title=1994 World Championship for Men |publisher=.fiba.com archive|date=1994-08-14 |access-date=2010-08-27}}</ref> The team was marketed as "[[Dream Team (basketball)|Dream Team II]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|title=BASKETBALL; Dream Team Ends Its Sequel Predictably|date=August 15, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/15/sports/basketball-dream-team-ends-its-sequel-predictably.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808202144/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/15/sports/basketball-dream-team-ends-its-sequel-predictably.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Phil|title=Yes, It Was A Joke|date=August 22, 1994|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005521/index.htm#|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404004037/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005521/index.htm|archive-date=April 4, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Coached by Nelson, along with assistants [[Don Chaney]], [[Pete Gillen]], and [[Rick Majerus]], Team USA had a roster of [[Derrick Coleman]], [[Joe Dumars]], [[Tim Hardaway]] (injured), [[Kevin Johnson (basketball)|Kevin Johnson]], [[Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)|Larry Johnson]], [[Shawn Kemp]], [[Dan Majerle]], [[Reggie Miller]], [[Alonzo Mourning]], [[Shaquille O'Neal]], [[Mark Price]], [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]], [[Isiah Thomas]] (injured), and [[Dominique Wilkins]].<ref name="usab.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/twelfth-world-championship-1994.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425183455/https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/twelfth-world-championship-1994.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2018|title=Twelfth World Championship -- 1994}}</ref>

USA went 8–0, defeating Spain 115–100, China 132–77, and Brazil 105–82. In the final round, the U.S. team defeated Australia 130–74, Puerto Rico 134–83, Russia 111–94, and Greece 97–58. In the gold medal game, Team USA defeated Russia 137–91.<ref name="usab.com"/>

Nelson stated, "I really don't know why they chose me, to tell you the truth. But I do know I always wanted to coach a U.S. national team. I didn't really have any conversations with [the league or USA Basketball] in advance of them choosing me. But, heck, it was an honor. It was probably the top experience that I had as a coach. To stand up there and see your flag raised is a special thing."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2186790-dream-team-ii-the-us-team-that-time-forgot|title = Dream Team II: The U.S. Team That Time Forgot| website=[[Bleacher Report]] }}</ref>

===New York Knicks (1995–1996)===
Nelson was hired by the [[New York Knicks]] after their original choice, [[Chuck Daly]], declined their coaching offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-25-sp-16910-story.html|title=Knicks Moving to Plan B : Pro basketball: Daly scuttles hopes of getting the coach they wanted, but Nelson likely waiting in the wings.|date=25 June 1995|via=LA Times}}</ref> In 1995, Nelson began his stint with the Knicks,<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Wise |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/07/07/knicks-crown-nelson-coach-of-new-york/ |title=Knicks Crown Nelson Coach Of New York - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=1995-07-07 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref> which lasted from July 1995 until March 1996. Nelson coached the Knicks to a respectable 34–25 record, but his up-tempo style of offense sharply contrasted the Knicks' defensive style of play.<ref name="query.nytimes.com"/> Nelson also suggested the Knicks trade [[Patrick Ewing]] so the team could make an offer to [[Shaquille O'Neal]], who was rumored to be interested in a move to New York.<ref name="query.nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/sports/basketball/02araton.html?pagewanted=all Hindsight, The Knicks And Nelson's Foresight], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2 March 2007</ref>

On March 8, 1996, Nelson was fired as head coach by the Knicks. He was replaced by his assistant, [[Jeff Van Gundy]]. He had a 34–25 record. New York finished 13–10 with Van Gundy, for an overall record of 47–35.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1996.html|title = 1995-96 New York Knicks Roster and Stats}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005)===
Nelson was named head coach and general manager of the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in 1997. He was coming to a team that had been dormant through the 1990s and a permanent fixture in the NBA lottery. In 1998, his first full [[off-season]] in charge, Nelson worked out draft day deals with the [[1998–99 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks]] and [[1998–99 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]], essentially trading the draft rights of [[Robert Traylor]] and [[Pat Garrity]] for [[Dirk Nowitzki]] and [[Steve Nash]], whom he wanted to pair with the Mavericks rising star [[Michael Finley]].

The trio of Nash, Finley and Nowitzki became the foundation for the Mavericks dramatic turnaround, as Nelson coached the Mavericks to four consecutive 50-win seasons. The height of their success was a 60-win season in [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]], when they reached the Western Conference Finals against the [[San Antonio Spurs]]. An injury to Nowitzki in game 3 that kept him out for the rest of the series doomed the Mavericks as they lost in six games.

Lacking an interior presence to combat low-post players such as [[Shaquille O'Neal]], Nelson introduced the "[[Hack-a-Shaq]]" defense to the NBA while in Dallas. In the 2004 off-season, Steve Nash was offered a max contract by the Phoenix Suns; despite Nelson's insistence on matching the offer, [[Mark Cuban]] declined and Nash accepted Phoenix's offer.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kelly Dwyer |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/mark-cuban-contends-don-nelson-once-wanted-trade-204121022--nba.html |title=Mark Cuban contends that Don Nelson once wanted to trade Jason Terry for … Raul Lopez? |website=Sports.yahoo.com |date=2012-12-12 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref> Nash won consecutive [[NBA MVP|MVP]]s with the Suns the following two seasons.

On March 19, 2005, Nelson stepped down as Dallas' head coach, naming [[Avery Johnson]] as his successor. Nelson retained his job as Dallas' GM until after the season, when he named his son, assistant GM [[Donnie Nelson]], as his replacement as GM. The Mavericks reached the [[2006 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] the following season, though they would lose to the [[Miami Heat]] in six games.

Nelson has spoken fondly of his time in Dallas, but admitted he lost interest in remaining with the team when they did not re-sign Nash. In eight seasons with Dallas, Nelson had a 339–251 (.575) record.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Golden State Warriors, second stint (2006–2010)===
[[File:Don Nelson at Suns at Warriors 3-15-09 1.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Nelson as the Warriors' head coach in March 2009]]
On August 29, 2006, Nelson returned to the Golden State Warriors for a second stint as head coach. [[Chris Mullin (basketball)|Chris Mullin]], a favorite of Nelson's from his first stint as Warriors head coach, was the team's general manager. Nelson's style of coaching favored the play of [[Baron Davis]], [[Monta Ellis]], [[Matt Barnes]], [[Jason Richardson]], and [[Andris Biedriņš]]. Midway through the season, Mullin (at behest of Nelson) orchestrated a trade with the Pacers to obtain [[Al Harrington]] and [[Stephen Jackson]].

The new lineup thrived under Nelson; Davis, Biedriņš and Jackson saw an increase in scoring and efficiency, Barnes went from a virtual unknown to a solid rotation contributor,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/14/SPG4RMVILC1.DTL&hw=matt+barnes+nfl&sn=001&sc=1000 |title=Barnes turns Warriors into believers |last1=Hu |first1=Janny |date=December 14, 2006 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=August 5, 2010}}</ref> and Ellis was named the [[NBA Most Improved Player Award|NBA's Most Improved Player]] after averaging 16.5 points per game, a substantial increase from his average of 6.8 points per game the prior season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2850222 |title=Ellis edges Martin, wins most improved award |website=[[ESPN]] |date=2007-04-26 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref> The Warriors closed out the season on a 16–5 run and just managed to qualify for the [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007 playoffs]].

Nelson faced his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs had the NBA's best record, and were a pick to win the NBA championship that year. In one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history, Nelson coached the 8th-seeded Warriors to series victory over the top-seeded Mavericks in six games. It was numerically the largest upset in the history of the NBA playoffs, with the 67–15 Mavericks' regular-season win–loss record 25 games better than the 42–40 Warriors'. The Warriors went on to lose to the [[Utah Jazz]] in the second round.

On January 29, 2008, [[Chris Webber]] signed with the Warriors, reuniting with Nelson and returning to the team that had drafted him 15 years earlier.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beacham |first=Greg |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-02-01-2405350858_x.htm |title=Chris Webber hopes ancient feud stays buried when he rejoins Warriors |website=USA Today |date=2008-02-01 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref> His return lasted only nine games as he was forced to retire due to injuries,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080331004126/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/03/25/bc.bkn.warriors.webber.ap/index.html?eref=si_topstories Warriors' Webber calls it quits], SI.com. Retrieved on March 25, 2008.</ref> but his return signaled closure to arguably the biggest blemish on Nelson's otherwise impressive resume as a player's coach.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dubow |first=Josh |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-03-25-2405350858_x.htm |title=Chris Webber ends comeback, will retire |website=USA Today |date=2008-03-25 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref> The Warriors finished 48–34 that season, their most wins since 1993–94 (during Nelson's first stint with the team). However, in a tightly contested Western Conference, the Warriors missed the playoffs by two games.

The next two seasons saw the Warriors plunge back into mediocrity (29–53 and 26–56), losing most of the players from their 2007 playoff run to either trades or [[Free agent|free agency]]. The first of his two losing seasons brought the Warriors the seventh overall pick in the [[2009 NBA draft]], and Nelson pushed the team to draft [[Stephen Curry]], despite skepticism from critics. Curry would go on to win back-to-back MVP awards and helped lead Golden State to championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Curry was also named 2022 NBA Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite web|last=Berman |first=Marc |url=https://nypost.com/2015/05/30/the-warriors-inside-story-in-beating-knicks-for-stephen-curry/ |title=Don Nelson: Stephen Curry pick wasn't vendetta vs. Knicks &#124; New York Post |website=New York Post |date=2015-05-30 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref><ref>McCallum, Jack, "Golden Days" (2017), p. 53</ref>

On September 23, 2010, Nelson announced he would resign as head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Freud|first=Sleepy|date=2010-09-23|title=Don Nelson to Resign as Golden State Warriors Head Coach|url=https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2010/9/23/1707158/nellie-to-resign-as-head-coach|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Golden State Of Mind|language=en}}</ref> The ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported that new owners [[Joe Lacob]] and [[Peter Guber]] wanted "a young, up-and-coming coach" to help revive the Warriors' fortunes. Longtime assistant [[Keith Smart]] succeeded Nelson as coach.<ref name=ChronResign>Simmons, Rusty. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/23/SP0N1FIK8K.DTL No more Nellieball for the Warriors]. [[San Francisco Chronicle]], 2010-09-24.</ref> In February 2011, Nelson said on [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] radio station [[KNBR (AM)|KNBR]] that he was fired: "I talked to (Lacob) on the phone before I got fired, and I was really impressed. I was a little surprised with the way things happened, but I think it is for the best for everybody."<ref>{{cite news |last=Simmons |first=Rusty |title=Nelson cites Warriors' effort, calls roster flawed |date=February 4, 2011 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |page=B-1 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/03/SPCP1HIO98.DTL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207013641/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F03%2FSPCP1HIO98.DTL |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |quote="It was done really professionally", Nelson said. "I talked to (Lacob) on the phone before I got fired, and I was really impressed. I was a little surprised with the way things happened, but I think it is for the best for everybody." |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 11 total seasons with Golden State, Nelson's teams finished {{Winning percentage|422|443|record=y}}. He ended his coaching career with 2398 games and a 1335–1063 (.557) record.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===NBA coaching record===
On December 29, 2001, Nelson became the third coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games, behind [[Lenny Wilkens]] and [[Pat Riley]]. Nelson won his 1,300th career game on February 21, 2009, joining Wilkens as the only coach to pass this milestone. Nelson defeated the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] on April 7, 2010, achieving his 1,333rd career win and passing Lenny Wilkens for first all-time on the list of the NBA's winningest coaches. This would later be surpassed by [[Gregg Popovich]] who won his 1,336th game on March 11, 2022. Nelson finished his career with 1,335 regular season victories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-gregg-popovich-becomes-nba-winningest-coach-of-all-time/|title=Spurs coach Gregg Popovich becomes NBA's winningest coach of all-time|website=ClutchPoints|last=Samillano|first=Gerard|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Nelson married Joy Wolfgram at the [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum|Oakland Coliseum]] in June 1991.<ref name=TheSignal>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19728553/warriors_coach_nelson_married_in/ |title=Warriors coach Nelson married in Coliseum |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=The Signal |location=[[Santa Clarita, California]] |page=23 |date=June 30, 1991 |access-date=May 1, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Nelson and his wife have a total of six children from prior marriages.<ref name=TheSignal/><ref name=April2018NYT/> He has a daughter born out of wedlock and put up for adoption, whom he did not know about for 29 years, who first reached out to him in 1997, not wanting anything in return. She now lives in Maui near Nelson and his wife.<ref name=April2018NYT/>

He had fifteen grandchildren as of 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.com/2012/05/11/nba-legend-don-nelsons-50-year-quest-for-iowa-diploma-ends-saturday|title=NBA legend Don Nelson's 50-year quest for Iowa diploma ends Saturday}}</ref>

Nelson's son [[Donnie Nelson]] was the general manager of the [[Dallas Mavericks]]. Donnie was Don's assistant coach with the Mavericks when Don won his 1,000th NBA game. Donnie moved from coaching to become the president of basketball operations for the Mavericks in 2002 while his father was still coaching Dallas. Donnie Nelson was an assistant coach for Lithuania in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics.<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/10/22/don-nelson/index.html|title=NBA.com: League dealing with absence of longtime NBA figure Nelson|website=NBA.com|access-date=2019-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202115445/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/10/22/don-nelson/index.html|archive-date=2010-12-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.com/nelson-s-son-proud-of-milestone-don-nelson-s-th/article_82d620d8-49fe-5e92-a12d-d1925ab177d7.html|title=NELSON'S SON PROUD OF MILESTONE\ DON NELSON'S 1,000TH VICTORY MEANS A LOT TO HIS ASSISTANT COACH, DONNIE NELSON.|first=DWAIN PRICE Fort Worth|last=Star-Telegram|website=Greensboro News and Record|date=31 December 2001 }}</ref>

Nelson calls [[Dirk Nowitzki]] his "German son". Nelson coached Nowitzki for his first six NBA seasons in Dallas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/mavs-news-don-nelson-calls-dirk-nowitzki-his-german-son/|title=Former Mavs Coach Don Nelson Delivers Special Message For Dirk Nowitzki|first=Matthew|last=Schmidt|date=10 April 2019|website=ClutchPoints}}</ref> "In my second game ever in the NBA -- obviously I wasn't a defensive presence -- he wanted me out there in the game but he didn't have anybody for me to guard," recalled the 7'0" Nowitzki. "So he let me guard [5-foot-3] [[Muggsy Bogues]] for a couple possessions. He said, 'Just stand there in the paint and wave at him. He doesn't want to shoot.'"<ref name="nba.com"/>

In the summers, while a player and when he became an NBA coach, Nelson would continually work with his Rock Island High School coach Bob Riley at a basketball camp and the two would play golf after. Riley died in 2009. "He always made sure he checked in on my dad," said Bob's son Jack Riley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qconline.com/news/local/rock-island-coaching-legend-bob-riley-dies-monday/article_06a27ad4-85f3-59b9-8ea8-c8b752605d33.html|title=Rock Island coaching legend Bob Riley dies Monday|first=John|last=Marx|website=Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline|date=23 February 2009 }}</ref>

Nelson had a hand in the Celtics drafting teammate [[Steve Kuberski]]. While with the Celtics, Nelson would return home to the [[Quad Cities]] and played with Kuberski, then at [[Bradley University]], at the Moline YMCA. Kuberski was from [[Moline, Illinois]], and had played at [[Moline High School]], a [[Western Big 6]] rival of Nelson's alma mater [[Rock Island High School]]. "We were just playing one-on-one but he went back to Boston and said they should take a look at this kid when his class comes up," Kuberski said of Nelson's influence. "They drafted me on whim a year early."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/q-c-hall-of-fame-can-do-attitude-carried-kuberski/article_80fbd281-0ff9-5799-9cf1-53e5f9e0a9a1.html|title=Q-C Hall of Fame: Can-do attitude carried Kuberski|first=Don|last=Doxsie|website=The Quad-City Times|date=16 April 2001 }}</ref>

After his playing career ended, Nelson refereed basketball games in the summer league, thinking that becoming a referee might be his next career. "I never thought about coaching. I always wondered what in the world I'm going to do when I retire. That's why I tried refereeing", Nelson said.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8341678|title=Stein: Q&A with luckiest guy in the world Don Nelson|date=6 September 2012|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> "He sucked as a referee, according to what he tells me", said Nelson's former teammate Joel Novak, who played with Nelson at both Rock Island High School and the University of Iowa. Nelson credits Novak for a lot of his rebounds for missing many shots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/columnists/doxsie/eye-openers-nelson-nearly-became-a-referee/article_efa73a5e-44f5-11df-91bd-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Eye Openers: Nelson nearly became a referee|first=Don|last=Doxsie|website=The Quad-City Times|date=11 April 2010 }}</ref><ref name="ESPN"/>

[[File:Don Nelson Dallas International Film Festival.jpg|thumb|Nelson at the [[Dallas International Film Festival]] in 2012]]
During the 1986 season, Nelson established The Don Nelson Fund with the help of the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] to aid struggling farmers in [[Wisconsin]]. The idea originated from Wisconsin dairy farmer Clarence Willcome, to whom Nelson donated his $11,000 [[1986 NBA Playoffs]] bonus compensation. Nelson headed a weight loss drive to raise more money for Willcome and the Wisconsin Farm Fund.<ref>{{cite news |title=Milwaukee Bucks coach Don Nelson has given up his... |work=United Press International |date=May 22, 1986 |location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin}}</ref>

Nelson had prostate cancer surgery in 2000.<ref name="auto2"/>

Nelson graduated from the [[University of Iowa]] with a degree in [[physical education]] in 2012. He left Iowa in 1962 with his degree coursework nearly completed. He later took Spanish classes to fulfill some of his missing 8 foreign language credit hours. He still lacked student-teaching credits. When Nelson called the university, after being inspired by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] to finish his degree, Iowa decided that his lifetime of teaching through NBA coaching would fulfill that requirement and invited him to the graduation ceremony in 2012. He attended and received his diploma with over 45 family and friends accompanying him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Simmons |first=Rusty |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Hall-of-Fame-Don-Nelson-prefers-graduating-3419381.php |title=Hall of Fame? Don Nelson prefers graduating |publisher=[[SFGate]] |date=2012-03-20 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20111103-ex-mavs-coach-don-nelson-set-to-graduate-50-years-after-leaving-iowa.ece |title=Dallas Mavericks: Ex-Mavs coach Don Nelson set to graduate 50 years after leaving Iowa &#124; SportsDay |website=Dallasnews.com |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref>

As of April 2018, Nelson lives in [[Maui]], where he has a farm to grow flowers, coffee, and [[cannabis]].<ref name=April2018NYT/> He hosts local [[poker]] games with celebrities such as [[Willie Nelson]], [[Woody Harrelson]], and [[Owen Wilson]].<ref name=April2018NYT>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/style/don-nelson-nba-weed.html |title=Don Nelson Talks Hoops, Poker and, Uh, Weed |first=Alex |last=Williams |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 30, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2018}}</ref>

"I know how far I've come from being a hog farmer," Nelson said of his career. "I've come a long, long way from being some country kid. I got in the fast lane, and I've stayed there a long time. I've done pretty well."<ref name="mercurynews.com"/>

"All I can tell you is he's happy. He's in Maui, drinking Mai Tais and watching sunsets and whales. Life's good," said his son Donnie.<ref name="nba.com"/>

==Honors==
* In 1973, Nelson was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibcaillinois.org/don-nelson.cfm|title=Illinois Basketball Coaches Association|website=www.ibcaillinois.org|access-date=2019-04-21|archive-date=2019-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421193840/http://www.ibcaillinois.org/don-nelson.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Nelson's #19 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/retired-numbers|title=Retired Numbers|website=Boston Celtics}}</ref>
[[File:Celtics19.png|thumb|Nelson's Celtics #19 was retired in 1978]]

* Nelson was inducted into the Des Moines Sunday Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.<ref name="desmoinesregister.com"/>
* In 1987, Nelson was inducted into the Quad City Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/qcshalloffame/don-nelson/article_79411ef8-1502-5b32-acb0-dc173c20d173.html|title=Don Nelson|website=The Quad-City Times|date=21 April 2015 }}</ref>
* Nelson was inducted into the [[University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hof.hawkeyesports.com/inductees/donald-arvin-nelson/|title=Nelson « University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame - Official Website}}</ref>
* In 2012, Nelson was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/other-sports/ci_21495357/basketball-hall-fame-inductee-don-nelson-finds-theres |title=Basketball Hall of Fame: Don Nelson inducted |website=Mercurynews.com |date=2012-09-07 |access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref>

==NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!STL
!BLK
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1962–63 NBA season|1962–63]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1962-63 Chicago Zephyrs season|Chicago]]
|62
|17.3
|.440
|.729
|4.5
|1.2
|–
|–
|6.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963–64 NBA season|1963–64]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963-64 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
|80
|17.6
|.418
|.741
|4.0
|1.0
|–
|–
|5.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964–65 NBA season|1964–65]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964-65 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
|39
|6.1
|.424
|.769
|1.9
|0.6
|–
|–
|2.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1965–66 NBA season|1965–66]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965-66 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|75
|23.5
|.439
|.684
|5.4
|1.1
|–
|–
|10.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1966–67 NBA season|1966–67]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1966-67 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|79
|15.2
|.446
|.742
|3.7
|0.8
|–
|–
|7.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1967–68 NBA season|1967–68]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1967-68 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|18.3
|.494
|.728
|5.3
|1.3
|–
|–
|10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1968–69 NBA season|1968–69]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1968–69 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|21.6
|.485
|.776
|5.6
|1.1
|–
|–
|11.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1969–70 NBA season|1969–70]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1969–70 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|27.1
|.501
|.775
|'''7.3'''
|1.8
|–
|–
|'''15.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1970–71 NBA season|1970–71]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1970–71 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|'''27.5'''
|.468
|.744
|6.9
|1.9
|–
|–
|13.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1971–72 NBA season|1971–72]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1971–72 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|25.4
|.480
|.788
|5.5
|'''2.3'''
|–
|–
|13.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1972–73 NBA season|1972–73]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1972–73 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|72
|19.8
|.476
|'''.846'''
|4.4
|1.4
|–
|–
|10.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1973–74 NBA season|1973–74]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1973–74 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''82'''
|21.3
|.508
|.788
|4.2
|2.0
|0.2
|'''0.2'''
|11.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1974–75 NBA season|1974–75]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1974–75 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|79
|26.0
|style="background:#cfecec;" |'''.539*'''
|.827
|5.9
|'''2.3'''
|'''0.4'''
|'''0.2'''
|14.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1975–76 NBA season|1975–76]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1975–76 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|75
|12.6
|.462
|.789
|2.4
|1.0
|0.2
|0.1
|6.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|1053
|20.6
|.480
|.765
|4.9
|1.4
|0.3
|0.1
|10.3
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!STL
!BLK
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964 NBA Playoffs|1964]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1963-64 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
|5
|11.2
|.538
|'''1.000'''
|2.6
|0.4
|–
|–
|3.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965 NBA Playoffs|1965]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1964-65 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
|11
|19.3
|.453
|.760
|5.4
|1.7
|–
|–
|6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1966 NBA Playoffs|1966]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1965-66 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|17
|18.6
|.424
|.808
|5.0
|0.8
|–
|–
|8.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1967 NBA Playoffs|1967]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1966-67 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|9
|15.8
|.458
|.588
|4.7
|1.0
|–
|–
|7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1968 NBA Playoffs|1968]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1967-68 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|'''19'''
|24.6
|.520
|.743
|'''7.5'''
|1.7
|–
|–
|12.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1969 NBA Playoffs|1969]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1968–69 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|18
|19.3
|.518
|.833
|4.6
|1.2
|–
|–
|12.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1972 NBA Playoffs|1972]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1971–72 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|11
|'''28.0'''
|.525
|.854
|5.5
|1.9
|–
|–
|13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1973 NBA Playoffs|1973]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1972–73 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|13
|23.3
|.465
|.875
|2.9
|1.2
|–
|–
|11.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1974 NBA Playoffs|1974]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1973–74 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|18
|25.9
|.500
|.774
|5.4
|1.9
|'''0.4'''
|'''0.2'''
|11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1975 NBA Playoffs|1975]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1974–75 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|11
|24.9
|'''.564'''
|.902
|4.1
|'''2.4'''
|0.2
|'''0.2'''
|'''15.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;" |[[1976 NBA Playoffs|1976]]†
| style="text-align:left;" |[[1975–76 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|18
|17.5
|.481
|.870
|2.9
|0.9
|0.2
|0.1
|9.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career
|150
|21.4
|.498
|.817
|4.8
|1.4
|0.3
|0.1
|10.5
|}

==Head coaching record==
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1976–77 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1976}}
|64||27||37||{{Winning percentage|27|37}}|| style="text-align:center;"|6th in Midwest||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1977}}
|82||44||38||{{Winning percentage|44|38}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Midwest||9||5||4||{{Winning percentage|5|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1978 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1978–79 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1978}}
|82||38||44||{{Winning percentage|38|44}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Midwest||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1979–80 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1979}}
|82||49||33||{{Winning percentage|49|33}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Midwest||7||3||4||{{Winning percentage|3|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1980 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1980–81 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1980}}
|82||60||22||{{Winning percentage|60|22}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||7||3||4||{{Winning percentage|3|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1981 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1981}}
|82||55||27||{{Winning percentage|55|27}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||6||2||4||{{Winning percentage|2|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1982 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1982–83 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1982}}
|82||51||31||{{Winning percentage|51|31}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||9||5||4||{{Winning percentage|5|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1983 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Finals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1983–84 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1983}}
|82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||16||8||8||{{Winning percentage|8|8}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1984 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Finals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1984}}
|82||59||23||{{Winning percentage|59|23}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||8||3||5||{{Winning percentage|3|5}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1985 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1985}}
|82||57||25||{{Winning percentage|57|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||14||7||7||{{Winning percentage|7|7}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1986 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Finals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1986–87 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}}
|82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Central||12||6||6||{{Winning percentage|6|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1987 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988–89 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}
|82||43||39||{{Winning percentage|43|39}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Pacific||8||4||4||{{Winning percentage|4|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1989 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989–90 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
|82||37||45||{{Winning percentage|37|45}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
|82||44||38||{{Winning percentage|44|38}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Pacific||9||4||5||{{Winning percentage|4|5}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1991 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
|82||55||27||{{Winning percentage|55|27}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Pacific||4||1||3||{{Winning percentage|1|3}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1992 NBA Playoffs|First Round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}
|82||34||48||{{Winning percentage|34|48}}|| style="text-align:center;"|6th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1993}}
|82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||3||0||3||{{Winning percentage|0|3}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1994 NBA Playoffs|First Round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1994–95 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1994}}
|45||14||31||{{Winning percentage|14|31}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(resigned)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1995–96 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1995}}
|59||34||25||{{Winning percentage|34|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(fired)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1997–98 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1997}}
|66||16||50||{{Winning percentage|16|50}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Midwest||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1998–99 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1998}}
|50||19||31||{{Winning percentage|19|31}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Midwest||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1999–2000 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
|82||40||42||{{Winning percentage|40|42}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Midwest||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2000}}
|82||53||29||{{Winning percentage|53|29}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Midwest||10||4||6||{{Winning percentage|4|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2001 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2001}}
|82||57||25||{{Winning percentage|57|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Midwest||8||4||4||{{Winning percentage|4|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2002 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2002}}
|82||60||22||{{Winning percentage|60|22}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Midwest||20||10||10||{{Winning percentage|10|10}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2003 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Finals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2003}}
|82||52||30||{{Winning percentage|52|30}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Midwest||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2004 NBA Playoffs|First Round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2004–05 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2004}}
|64||42||22||{{Winning percentage|42|22}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(resigned)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2006–07 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2006}}
|82||42||40||{{Winning percentage|42|40}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||11||5||6||.455
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2007 NBA Playoffs|Conf. Semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2007–08 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2007}}
|82||48||34||{{Winning percentage|48|34}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2008–09 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2008}}
|82||29||53||{{Winning percentage|29|53}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2009–10 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2009}}
|82||26||56||{{Winning percentage|26|56}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"|'''Career'''
| ||2,398||1,335||1,063||{{Winning percentage|1335|1063}}|| ||166||75||91||{{Winning percentage|75|91}}
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Don Nelson}}
{{basketballstats|bbr=n/nelsodo01}}
* [https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/nelsodo01c.html Basketball-Reference.com: Don Nelson (as a coach)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519012106/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/nelsodo01c.html |date=2011-05-19 }}

{{Navboxes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Don}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
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[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Lakers players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Bucks executives]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Bucks head coaches]]
[[Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:NBA general managers]]
[[Category:NBA players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:New York Knicks head coaches]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Muskegon, Michigan]]
[[Category:United States men's national basketball team coaches]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]