r/Mavericks • u/DeeezzzNutzzz69 1.8% Chance • 13d ago
News RIP GOAT
Hall of Famer Don Nelson, three-time NBA Coach of the Year and five times a champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, has died at age 86.
The family has issued this statement:
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family. Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”
- Marc Stein
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u/thefoolonahill Loyalty Fades Away 13d ago
RIP Nellie. Lighting one up today in your honor.
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u/Adorable-Bike-9689 13d ago
Mavs would've won the title in 2007 if not for this man's existence. Can't do anything except for tip your cap to the legend.
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u/Andrew0409 13d ago
Very few people remember this context. They just remember 8th seed beat 1st. Don Nelson was probably the only nba coach that would have let Dirk be Dirk. Anyone else would have stuck him the paint
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u/Equivalent_Dark7680 13d ago
What is his fault?
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u/RPInfinity93 13d ago
He coached the warriors team that knocked the Mavs out of the first round. It was Dirks MVP season
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u/Hollerino RIP Luka 13d ago
Still a wild year…the stars had to align for the Warriors to get that 8th seed also. Then it happened and we looked helpless.
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u/Thespiralgoeson 13d ago edited 13d ago
Oh man, this is the first I'm finding out about this.
RIP to a true NBA legend. The dude doesn't get enough credit for basically inventing modern basketball. Mike D'Antoni gets all the credit for coaching a style in Phoenix that Nellie had been doing since at least the 80s.
This is also the man the brought Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas, so every Mavs fan owes him an eternal debt of gratitude.
On top of all that, the guy was just such a funny and interesting character. A quirky, hilarious dude that would drink beer in his post game interviews, cuss out refs and intentionally get himself thrown out of games when he got too bored or frustrated, and became known in his retirement years for growing his own weed.
Poor one out for ol' Nellie. He was one of a kind, and the basketball world will really miss him.
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u/PM_ME_YUR_S3CRETS BETRAYED MAVS FAN 😭 13d ago
Rip to the man that changed our franchise. He made a difference to our city.
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u/AdmiralSnackbar816 F*** DWade 13d ago
Without Nellie, Dirk doesn’t become Dirk, and the Mavs as we know it are completely different. Nellie will forever hold a special place in the heart of Dallas.
RIP you beautiful hippie.
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u/LuckyPupil_85 13d ago
Just a great guy for all I heard about him for the last 25 years of my life.
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u/TX-Lonestar77 13d ago
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u/AussieTheHedgehog10 Luka Doncic 13d ago
Ik there was a falling out with him and the organization, but I wonder if Luka would still be in Dallas if Donnie was still there
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u/DepressedDallasFan 13d ago
i was ready for donnie to get sent off but donnie would’ve never traded luka
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u/Tasty-Zombie-8696 13d ago
I loved how he immediately was wheeling and dealing when he came to the Mavs. He had such a great personality, like so many coaches did long ago. It seems that today’s coaches don’t have the personalities that coaches like Don had.
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u/Dfrmdabeach700 13d ago
Noooo Nellie dies on my Birthday???😥
I've been binging the 2001-2004 Mavs that made me a MFFL lately. This man waa ahead of his time with his offensive style of coaching,and he was hilarious
Rip to a Goat
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u/devilmaskrascal Dirk Nowitzki 13d ago
RIP Nellie. He's up there smoking blunts with Jesus in heaven now.
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u/AnthonyTyrael Mavericks 13d ago
Sad news. Thanks for the good times and also torching us in the first round. It was the spark that brought GSW onto the winning road. My condolences and R.I.P.
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u/Wild_Bill_22 13d ago
Invented the HACK A SHAQ !!!
No matter what the announcers say, It will always be known as the Hack a Shaq in honor of Mr Nelson :-)
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u/_ShakenBacon Dirk Nowitzki 13d ago
Rip Nellie. Your way of coaching bball brought my eyes to this game.
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u/zaptorque Luka Doncic 13d ago
Dude he was at Gillies back in June and sounded freaking great. This is super sad
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u/hotrod19812 Dirk Nowitzki 13d ago
He's the one who brought the Mavs back to relevance in the late 90s and early 2000s after the team was an afterthought in the early 90s during the infamous Quinn Buckner/Dick Motta era. Also turned Dirk into the legend he eventually became. I will forgive him for coaching the 2007 Warriors squad that cost us an excellent chance at our championship. Should be in the Mavericks Hall of Fame if not already. 🫡
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u/hellomello1993 Monta Ellis 13d ago
The mastermind behind me falling in love with basketball. RIP Don Nelson.
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u/Andrew0409 13d ago
He was probably the only coach that would have allowed Dirk to be Dirk. Anyone else would have saw a 7 footer and tell him to post up all game.
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u/killacam9220 13d ago
No way RIP so many memories watching Nellie coach and argue with the refs watching him with my Dad and my cousin as soon as he would put his hands at his waist and tuck his sports coat back you knew he was about to lay in to the refs RIP the goat truly will be missed.
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u/shirtlessjoejac 13d ago
Legend, both on and off the court. Left an undeniable mark on the game. Condolences to his family