Don Nelson, 5-time NBA champion and pioneer of ‘Nellie Ball’ as coach, dies at 86

Don Nelson, a five-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics as a player and pioneering NBA coach known for his fast-paced 'Nellie Ball' style, died on Sunday at the age of 86, surrounded by family. Nelson finished with a career coaching record of 1,335-1,063 in regular-season games, making him the second-winningest coach in NBA history behind only Gregg Popovich. He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1976 and was credited with revolutionizing offensive play using smaller, more athletic lineups.