From Celtics stalwart to top coach
Mr. Nelson planted a kiss on Red Auerbach’s head during a Celtics legends game in 1995. To Garden fans, Hall of Famer will always be ‘Nellie’ 10 ago 2026 - The Boston Globe By John Powers GLOBE CORRESPONDENT Don Nelson, who won five championships as a versatile player for the Celtics before becoming an innovative Hall of Fame coach for four NBA clubs, died Sunday at 86, his family said. His health deteriorated after a stroke about three weeks ago, The New York Times reported, citing his granddaughter Christie Nelson Armstrong . Mr. Nelson, who spent 11 seasons with Boston after Los Angeles discarded him and another 31 directing from the sidelines , was involved with basketball for nearly a half-century. “Can you imagine doing something that you love the most in the entire world and doing it for your entire life and besides that getting a pile of money for it?” he said. “It’s unbelievable.” Mr. Nelson, whose No. 19 was retired by the Celtics , worked around his limitations to make...