FILE - Boston Celtics' Don Nelson (19) goes to the basket against Milwaukee's Cornell Warner (35) during a NBA Championship game, May 12, 1974, in Milwaukee.
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Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, has died at the age of 86. Nelson won five titles as a player with the Boston Celtics, though he never won one as a coach. He is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three franchises, Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State. Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style — “Nellie Ball” — created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from dominant big men to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from late Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.
The basketball world is mourning the death of Don Nelson, the NBA's second-winningest coach. Nelson died Sunday at age 86. Nelson won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics and finished his career with 1,335 career wins, which stood as the league record for nearly 12 years until Gregg Popovich broke it.