The basketball world is mourning the loss of legendary coach Don Nelson, who passed away on Sunday. The cause of death was not disclosed by his family.
He was 86 years old.
Nelson, the second-winningest coach in the NBA, spent 31 years calling the shots for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks. He led them to multiple runs in the playoffs and handled numerous All-Stars and Hall of Famers.
One of them was Jason Kidd, who sent a powerful message following Nelson’s death.
“We lost one of the legends of the game today. Don Nelson was a great player, a coaching genius, and a great person. He will truly be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and being impacted by his one-of-a-kind wisdom. May he rest in peace,” wrote Kidd on X.
We lost one of the legends of the game today. Don Nelson was a great player, a coaching genius and a great person. He will truly be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and being impacted by his one-of-a-kind wisdom. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/Z9dgroweR1
— Jason Kidd (@RealJasonKidd) August 9, 2026
While Kidd never played for Nelson, he was invited by the iconic mentor, who was then with the Warriors, to play pickup games when he was growing up in Oakland and trying to make it to the NBA.
Like Nelson, Kidd became a coach after his playing career, including calling the shots for the Bucks and the Mavericks as well. He was let go by Dallas in May after five seasons.
Other players also remembered Nelson, a three-time Coach of the Year, including Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tim Hardaway Sr.
“He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game. He’s a true icon and will be missed by the countless number of people he touched, including myself, during a legendary career,” said Curry in a statement.
The basketball world is mourning the loss of legendary coach Don Nelson, who passed away on Sunday. The cause of death was not disclosed by his family. He was 86 years old. Nelson, the second-winningest coach in the NBA, spent 31 years calling the shots for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks.
