Nelson won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

The former Iowa standout played 14 seasons in the NBA and enjoyed immense success as a coach, too.

Nelson's 1,355 wins are the second-most among coaches in NBA history. He held the record before Gregg Popovich surpassed his mark in April 2022.

Nelson was an NBA head coach for 31 seasons, spanning from 1976 until 2010. During that stretch, Nelson coached a rich crop of talent, including Dirk Nowitzki, Steph Curry, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, and Steve Nash.

NBA World Mourns Don Nelson

Tributes have begun pouring in for Nelson from across the NBA community.

Former Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic wrote a heartfelt message on X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing his condolences to the Nelson family.

"It's a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson. I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game. Especially the way he believed in international players. I'm grateful for the time I spent with him. Thinking of the entire Nelson family today. I loved getting to know you, Coach," Donic wrote.

The Dallas Mavericks, for whom Nelson served as head coach for eight seasons, released a statement on social media.

"A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten. We mourn the passing of former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and celebrate a life that left an incredible mark on our franchise and the game of basketball. Rest in peace, Nellie."