Don Nelson was a true NBA original

When you look at how basketball is played in 2026, you see the fingerprints of one of the NBA's most unconventional, creative head coaches all over it.

Don Nelson, who died Sunday at age 86, never won a title, but only his good friend Gregg Popovich logged more than Nellie's 1,335 career wins. His innovations were almost as legendary as his personality, and the NBA lost a true great this weekend.

Don Nelson was unconventional in the best way

After a 14-year career highlighted by five titles with the Boston Celtics, who retired Nelson's No. 19 jersey in 1978, Nelson became an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, who had just traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 18 games later, he became head coach, a job he'd hold for 12 seasons, working as the team's general manager for the last 11.

Right away, Nelson proved unafraid to push against convention. He pioneered the idea of the "point forward," where small forward Paul Pressey would direct the offense so the Bucks could play multiple shooting guards together. The Bucks ran off seven straight Central Division titles relying on small-ball lineups where 6-foot-7 Marques Johnson played power forward. That's not unusual in 2026, but almost unthinkable in the 1980's.

Nelson excelled at finding mismatches. He'd often neutralize an opposing shot-blocking center by placing his own center beyond the three-point arc, even having 7-foot-6 Manute Bol launch 91 threes in 1988-89 — one more than shooting guard Mitch Richmond. That same season, Nellie's Golden State Warriors upset the Utah Jazz in a first-round sweep thanks to starting 6-foot-7 Rod Higgins at center against 7-foot-4 Defensive Player of the Year Mark Eaton.

Don Nelson led memorable teams that never won it all

Nelson's approach depended on faith in players. "Nellie Ball" gave players opportunities and trust. Players were able to develop their games, even coming from unusual places for NBA talent at the time — Sarunas Marciulionis from Lithuania, Dirk Nowitzki from Germany, Steve Nash from Canada — and let them thrive.