Don Nelson: The Greatest NBA Coach of All Time?

Don Nelson is one of the most successful and respected coaches in NBA history. But is he the greatest of all time?

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Don Nelson’s Coaching Record

Don Nelson is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, but does that make him the greatest of all time? He has coached some of the greatest teams and players in NBA history, but his teams have also been involved in some of the biggest controversies. Let’s take a look at his coaching record and see if he is the greatest of all time.

Regular season

In the regular season, Don Nelson has coached a total of 5,711 games, winning 1,335 and losing 2,176. His teams have made the playoffs seventeen times, winning nine division titles along the way. In the playoffs, Nelson has coached 174 games, winning 90 and losing 84. He has taken seven teams to the Conference Finals, but has never made it to the NBA Finals.

Playoffs

Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs five times during his eight seasons as head coach. His best season came in 1970–71, when he guided the Bucks to a 56–26 record and their first ever trip to the Finals. They would fall to the Baltimore Bullets in seven games. The following year, Nelson led the Bucks back to the Finals, but they were again defeated, this time by the New York Knicks in five games. After another trip to the playoffs in 1974, Nelson’s time with the Bucks came to an end.

Don Nelson’s Coaching Style

Don Nelson is a basketball legend. He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and he has coached some of the greatest players of all time. He has a unique coaching style that is based on player development and creating mismatches. Let’s take a closer look at Don Nelson’s coaching style.

Run and gun

Don Nelson is often credited with popularizing the “run and gun” style of basketball, which is characterized by a fast pace and lots of scoring. This style of play was originally invented by George Mikan, who played for the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1950s. Nelson’s teams were known for their high-scoring offenses, and they frequently set records for most points scored in a game. In 2006, Nelson’s Warriors team set the NBA record for most points scored in a single game, dropping 149 points on the Denver Nuggets.

Small ball

In 2006, with his Mavericks in danger of being swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Miami Heat, Nelson switched to a quirky style of play he had been toying with for years, using three guards, a swingman and a center. The so-called small ball created mismatches all over the court, allowing his speedy players to shoot over taller defenders and giving them the quickness to close out on shooters faster. The results were dramatic — Dallas won four straight games to take the series, then went on to upset the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the next round before losing in the conference finals.

Motion offense

Nelson is considered one of the pioneers of modern basketball. He popularized the concept of the point forward, a tactic where a forward is used to direct the offense and also act as a point guard. He also popularized the use of small lineups featuring shooting guards at the power forward position.

Nelson’s coaching style is based on motion offense. This style is predicated on constant movement, without set plays, and allowing players to make decisions based on what they see happening on the court. This style was Nelson’s response to the strict, rule-based offenses that were prevalent in the NBA at the time.

Nelson’s motion offense was highly successful. His teams were often able to generate good shots even against defenses that were focused on stopping them. Nelson’s style also put an emphasis on player creativity and freedom, which many players found appealing.

However, motion offense can also be chaotic and difficult to control. Because there are no set plays, it can be hard for players to know what they are supposed to do at any given moment. This can lead to confusion and turnovers. Additionally, because players are making decisions based on their own observations, they may not always make the right decision; this can result in bad shots or missed opportunities.

Don Nelson’s Legacy

Don Nelson is a name that is synonymous with winning in the NBA. He is the all-time winningest coach in NBA history, and he has coached some of the greatest teams and players of all time. But does that make him the greatest coach of all time? Let’s take a look.

As a coach

Don Nelson is often referred to as the greatest NBA coach of all time. He has the most wins of any coach in NBA history, and he is one of only two coaches to have won championships with two different teams. He is also one of the innovators of the modern game, helping to popularize the use of small lineups and the 3-point shot.

Nelson began his coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1976. He led the Bucks to their first ever championship in 1971, and he was named Coach of the Year in 1972. He coached the team for five more seasons, winning another championship in 1974. In 1981, he was hired by the Golden State Warriors, where he spent the next 11 seasons. He led the Warriors to playoff appearances in eight of those seasons, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 1987.

In 1995, Nelson was hired by the New York Knicks, where he coached for two seasons. He then returned to Golden State for three more seasons before retiring from coaching in 2006. He came out of retirement in 2007 to coach the Warriors again for two more seasons.

Nelson has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and he has been named one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history by ESPN.

As a player

Don Nelson is a former American professional basketball player and head coach. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending the majority of his career with the Boston Celtics. He was a head coach from 1976 to 2010, winning NBA Coach of the Year three times. His 1,335 wins are the most by any head coach in NBA history.

Nelson began his pro career in 1962 with the Celtics, winning eight consecutive NBA championships from 1963 to 1966 as a reserve player. He later served as a player-coach for two years before becoming a full-time head coach in 1976. Nelson led the Milwaukee Bucks to the franchise’s only Eastern Conference title in 1971 and took them to its only NBA Finals appearance in 1974. He coached five teams over 21 seasons, winning five division titles and making 10 trips to the playoffs.