Don Nelson, second-winningest coach in NBA history, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
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Iowa legend Don Nelson passes away
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Too bad and tough for family but he had a very rich life, great college player, big time celtic, great coach. I still remember watching him in the 60's just doing great offensive rebounding and he had this wicked fake jump while he palmed the ball and then explode to the rimDon Nelson, second-winningest coach in NBA history, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
some celtic highlightsDon Nelson, second-winningest coach in NBA history, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
Probably most memorable moment game 7 69’ Finals late 4th qtr where Lakers were finally the favorites and looking to beat Boston for first time. ball was deflected to him and he got the friendly bounce off the back of the rim to put them up 3. This was game Celtics notable as the lakers had ballons in the rafters said Lakers world champions and flyers in the seats saying what would happen after the game when the lakers won. Also bill Russell’s final game.
Top NBA Finals moments: Don Nelson's shot helps secure win in Game 7
In 1969, Don Nelson's jumper in Game 7 gave the Celtics the cushion they needed to get Boston another NBA title.
Nellie was my favorite when he played for the Hawks. Rembember all that success with the Celtics coming of the bench. RIP DN. If you remember him it means we are all getting quite a bit older.
RIP
He was the Warriors coach with Run TMC when I first started following basketball, and honestly had no idea he was a Hawkeye at that time.
He was the Warriors coach with Run TMC when I first started following basketball, and honestly had no idea he was a Hawkeye at that time.
He was a Hawkeye great IMODon Nelson, second-winningest coach in NBA history, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
Nelson joined the UI campus in 1959 but did not play his first varsity game until his sophomore season in 1960–61. He had to sit out his first year at Iowa because NCAA rules at the time banned all freshmen from playing on the varsity basketball team.
In just 72 games played, he averaged 21.2 ppg.
Current Iowa Career Scoring List:
1 Luka Garza...2,306 (4 yrs: 2018-2021, 127 GP, .546 FG%, 18.2 ppg; 120 three pt goals)
2 Roy Marble...2,116 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 134 GP, .539 FG%, 15.8 ppg; 26 three pt goals)
3 Jordan Bohannon...2,033 (5+ yrs: 2017-2019, 10 games in 2020 + 2021 & 2022; 179 GP, .389 FG%, 11.4 ppg; 455 three pt goals)
4 Aaron White...1,859 (4 yrs: 2012-2015, 140 GP, .517 FG%, 13.3 ppg; 61 three pt goals)
5 Acie Earl...1,779 (4 yrs: 1990-1993, 116 GP, .508 FG%, 15.3 ppg; 2 three pt goals)
6 Greg Stokes...1,768 (4 yrs: 1982-1985, 120 GP, .545 FG%, 14.7 ppg)
7 BJ Armstrong...1,705 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 130 GP, .492 FG%, 13.1 ppg; 136 three pt goals)
8 Roy Devyn Marble...1,694 (4 yrs: 2011-2014; 136 GP, .415 FG%, 12.5 ppg; 134 three pt goals)
9 Ronnie Lester...1,675 (4 yrs: 1977-1980, 99 GP, .471 FG%, 16.9 ppg)
10 Matt Gatens...1,635 (4 yrs: 2009-2012; 128 GP, .415 FG%, 12.8 ppg; 239 three pt goals)
11 Payton Sandfort…1,619 (4 yrs: 2022-2025; 134 GP, .420 FG%, 12.1 ppg; 271 three pt goals)
12 Jess Settles...1,611 (5 yrs: 1994-1997, 1999, 116 GP, .490 FG%, 13.9 ppg; 113 three pt goals)
13 Adam Haluska...1,578 (3 yrs: 2005-2007; 98 GP, .430 FG%, 16.1 ppg; 212 three pt goals); NOTE: 284 pts @ ISU = 1,862 in four years
14 Dean Oliver...1,561 (4 yrs: 1998-2001, 126 GP, .384 FG%, 12.4 ppg; 161 three pt goals)
15 Andre Woolridge...1,525 (3 yrs: 1995-1997, 97 GP, .467 FG%, 15.7 ppg; 104 three pt goals)
16 Don Nelson...1,522 (3 yrs: 1960-1962, 72 GP, .507 FG%, 21.2 ppg)
17 Greg Brunner...1,516 (4 yrs: 2003-2006, 127 GP, .503 FG%, 11.9 ppg; 42 three pt goals)
18 Peter Jok...1,508 (4 yrs: 2014-2017, 125 GP, .413 FG%, 12.1 ppg, 216 three pt goals)
19 Jeff Horner...1,502 (4 yrs: 2003-2006, 123 GP, .391 FG%, 12.2 ppg; 262 three pt goals)
20 Ed Horton...1,372 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 131 GP, .516 FG%, 10.5 ppg; 1 three pt goals)
21 Bruce King...1,361 (3 yrs: 1975-1977, 80 GP, .479 FG%, 17 ppg)
22 James Moses...1,343 (4 yrs: 1989-1992, 123 GP, .398 FG%, 10.9 ppg; 109 three pt goals)
23 Tyler Cook...1,315 (3 yrs: 2017-2019, 93 GP, .542 FG%, 14.1 ppg; 3 three pt goals)
24 Jarrod Uthoff...1,298 (3 yrs: 2014-2016, 100 GP, .450 FG%, 13.0 ppg; 137 three pt goals)
25 Joe Wieskamp...1,283 (3 yrs: 2019-2021, 97 GP, .467 FG%, 13.2 ppg; 184 three pt goals)
26 Jeff Moe...1,248 (4 yrs: 1985-1988, 131 GP, .480 FG%, 9.5 ppg; 131 three pt goals)
27 Kenyon Murray...1,230 (4 yrs: 1993-1996, 124 GP, .462 FG%, 9.9 ppg; 49 three pt goals)
NOTABLES:
Sam Williams...1,176 (2 yrs: 1967-1968, 49 GP, .466 FG%, 24 ppg)
John Johnson...1,172 (2 yrs: 1969-1970, 49 GP, .543 FG%, 23.9 ppg)
Fred Brown...1,091 (2 yrs: 1970-1971, 48 GP, .501 FG%, 22.7 ppg)
Reggie Evans...1,054 (2 yrs: 2001-2002, 69 GP, .486 FG%, 15.3 ppg; 1 three point goal)
Keegan Murray...1,046 (2 yrs: 2021-2022, 66 GP, .543 FG%, 15.8 ppg; 82 three pt goals)
Keep in mind that the 3 point shot was officially introduced to all of college basketball for the 1986-87 season. As you see above, that benefited Matt Gatens with 239 extra career points from his 239 three point shot makes. Imagine if the three point shot had existed for "Downtown Freddie Brown." It is interesting, too, that Horner made 262 three point shots; only his overall .391 FG % prevented him from further climbing up the career scoring list.
Whats interesting, too, is that Don Nelson and Ronnie Lester had great scoring averages; however, because of fewer games played at Iowa, it prevented them from being higher up the all time list.
21.2 ppg, 72 GP, Don Nelson,
16.9 ppg, 99 GP, Ronnie Lester
In just 72 games played, he averaged 21.2 ppg.
Current Iowa Career Scoring List:
1 Luka Garza...2,306 (4 yrs: 2018-2021, 127 GP, .546 FG%, 18.2 ppg; 120 three pt goals)
2 Roy Marble...2,116 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 134 GP, .539 FG%, 15.8 ppg; 26 three pt goals)
3 Jordan Bohannon...2,033 (5+ yrs: 2017-2019, 10 games in 2020 + 2021 & 2022; 179 GP, .389 FG%, 11.4 ppg; 455 three pt goals)
4 Aaron White...1,859 (4 yrs: 2012-2015, 140 GP, .517 FG%, 13.3 ppg; 61 three pt goals)
5 Acie Earl...1,779 (4 yrs: 1990-1993, 116 GP, .508 FG%, 15.3 ppg; 2 three pt goals)
6 Greg Stokes...1,768 (4 yrs: 1982-1985, 120 GP, .545 FG%, 14.7 ppg)
7 BJ Armstrong...1,705 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 130 GP, .492 FG%, 13.1 ppg; 136 three pt goals)
8 Roy Devyn Marble...1,694 (4 yrs: 2011-2014; 136 GP, .415 FG%, 12.5 ppg; 134 three pt goals)
9 Ronnie Lester...1,675 (4 yrs: 1977-1980, 99 GP, .471 FG%, 16.9 ppg)
10 Matt Gatens...1,635 (4 yrs: 2009-2012; 128 GP, .415 FG%, 12.8 ppg; 239 three pt goals)
11 Payton Sandfort…1,619 (4 yrs: 2022-2025; 134 GP, .420 FG%, 12.1 ppg; 271 three pt goals)
12 Jess Settles...1,611 (5 yrs: 1994-1997, 1999, 116 GP, .490 FG%, 13.9 ppg; 113 three pt goals)
13 Adam Haluska...1,578 (3 yrs: 2005-2007; 98 GP, .430 FG%, 16.1 ppg; 212 three pt goals); NOTE: 284 pts @ ISU = 1,862 in four years
14 Dean Oliver...1,561 (4 yrs: 1998-2001, 126 GP, .384 FG%, 12.4 ppg; 161 three pt goals)
15 Andre Woolridge...1,525 (3 yrs: 1995-1997, 97 GP, .467 FG%, 15.7 ppg; 104 three pt goals)
16 Don Nelson...1,522 (3 yrs: 1960-1962, 72 GP, .507 FG%, 21.2 ppg)
17 Greg Brunner...1,516 (4 yrs: 2003-2006, 127 GP, .503 FG%, 11.9 ppg; 42 three pt goals)
18 Peter Jok...1,508 (4 yrs: 2014-2017, 125 GP, .413 FG%, 12.1 ppg, 216 three pt goals)
19 Jeff Horner...1,502 (4 yrs: 2003-2006, 123 GP, .391 FG%, 12.2 ppg; 262 three pt goals)
20 Ed Horton...1,372 (4 yrs: 1986-1989, 131 GP, .516 FG%, 10.5 ppg; 1 three pt goals)
21 Bruce King...1,361 (3 yrs: 1975-1977, 80 GP, .479 FG%, 17 ppg)
22 James Moses...1,343 (4 yrs: 1989-1992, 123 GP, .398 FG%, 10.9 ppg; 109 three pt goals)
23 Tyler Cook...1,315 (3 yrs: 2017-2019, 93 GP, .542 FG%, 14.1 ppg; 3 three pt goals)
24 Jarrod Uthoff...1,298 (3 yrs: 2014-2016, 100 GP, .450 FG%, 13.0 ppg; 137 three pt goals)
25 Joe Wieskamp...1,283 (3 yrs: 2019-2021, 97 GP, .467 FG%, 13.2 ppg; 184 three pt goals)
26 Jeff Moe...1,248 (4 yrs: 1985-1988, 131 GP, .480 FG%, 9.5 ppg; 131 three pt goals)
27 Kenyon Murray...1,230 (4 yrs: 1993-1996, 124 GP, .462 FG%, 9.9 ppg; 49 three pt goals)
NOTABLES:
Sam Williams...1,176 (2 yrs: 1967-1968, 49 GP, .466 FG%, 24 ppg)
John Johnson...1,172 (2 yrs: 1969-1970, 49 GP, .543 FG%, 23.9 ppg)
Fred Brown...1,091 (2 yrs: 1970-1971, 48 GP, .501 FG%, 22.7 ppg)
Reggie Evans...1,054 (2 yrs: 2001-2002, 69 GP, .486 FG%, 15.3 ppg; 1 three point goal)
Keegan Murray...1,046 (2 yrs: 2021-2022, 66 GP, .543 FG%, 15.8 ppg; 82 three pt goals)
Keep in mind that the 3 point shot was officially introduced to all of college basketball for the 1986-87 season. As you see above, that benefited Matt Gatens with 239 extra career points from his 239 three point shot makes. Imagine if the three point shot had existed for "Downtown Freddie Brown." It is interesting, too, that Horner made 262 three point shots; only his overall .391 FG % prevented him from further climbing up the career scoring list.
Whats interesting, too, is that Don Nelson and Ronnie Lester had great scoring averages; however, because of fewer games played at Iowa, it prevented them from being higher up the all time list.
21.2 ppg, 72 GP, Don Nelson,
16.9 ppg, 99 GP, Ronnie Lester
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Don Nelson officially graduated from Iowa on May 12, 2012, receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education 50 years after leaving campus to play in the NBA.
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The only starter on the 1960-61 team to not be declared academically ineligible for the 2nd semester that season. He also was a junior on the varsity team that same season when Connie Hawkins was on the freshman squad and battled each other in scrimmages.
Don Nelson officially graduated from Iowa on May 12, 2012, receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education 50 years after leaving campus to play in the NBA.
Sad news. He was a great Hawkeye. Always rooted for him to coach a championship NBA team. About the only thing he wasn’t able to do.
Great Hawkeye and one of the most innovative coaches the NBA has ever had. Developed the pt forward position with the Bucks, I believe it was Sidney Moncrief but could have also been Paul Pressey. Then his teams at Golden State Run TMC were also innovative. Then retired after coaching in Dallas and retired in Hawaii with a pot farm.
What a legendary player and coach. I didn’t get to see him play for Iowa or the Celtics, but remember him well as an NBA coach. RIP Mr. Nelson.Don Nelson, second-winningest coach in NBA history, dies at 86
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion as a player, died at the age of 86 on Sunday.
He's #4 on my Top 25 Greatest Hawkeyes...
- Ronnie Lester ** ~
- Luka Garza ** ^^ ~
- John Johnson *
- Don Nelson **
- Charles Darling * ^
- Greg Stokes * ~
- Sam Williams ** ^
- Keegan Murray *
- Murray Wier * ^
- Fred Brown *
- Acie Earl *
- Andre Woolridge **
- Herb Wilkinson ***
- Dick Ives
- Roy Marble ~
- B.J. Armstrong ~’
- Carl Cain * ~
- Bill Logan ** ~
- Kevin Kunnert ꭞ
- Bruce King
- Jess Settles *
- Ed Horton *
- Aaron White *
- Roy Devin Marble *
- Tie - Jarrod Uthoff * / Chris Street ~
BOLD = 1st team AA
* = 1st team B1G
^ = B1G MVP/POY
~ = Retired #/Jersey’
I would like to see the uniforms from that era brought back as a tribute to Don & Sharm. I actually watched that OSU game on TV as a young lad.
Had one more great run for GSW after Dallas. He was the coach of them when they were the 8 seed & beat the 1 seed Mavs. He knew to make Nowitzki go right as that was his only weakness. Dirk fixed that after that year.
Yes, he did.
HBO sports had a great segment on him few years back. About his nba career but also about connecting with a daughter he didn’t know he had during playing days with Boston and how it had evolved. But also how he moved out to Hawaii got into the pot game. Really good friends with Willy Nelson and about how he was living the twilight years in Hawaii. Which included playing a lot of cards and smoking his fair share weed.
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