Overview
- Nelson died Sunday morning at age 86 surrounded by family, the Dallas Mavericks and a family statement released by reporter Marc Stein confirmed.
- He helped bring Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas, traveling to Würzburg before the 1998 draft and playing a central role in the draft deal that delivered Nowitzki to the Mavericks.
- Nelson won five NBA titles as a player, compiled 1,355 regular-season wins as a coach, was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
- Players and teams including Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Dončić, the Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors posted tributes that praised Nelson’s influence on their careers and on the game.
- A celebration of life is planned in Dallas and the family said plans call for a later interment in Hawaii, while Nelson’s innovations—such as positionless lineups and the early use of ‘point forwards’—left a lasting mark on NBA strategy and international scouting.