Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame coach renowned for his innovative basketball philosophy and a towering figure in NBA coaching history, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA).
Nelson’s coaching career spanned an impressive 31 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. He compiled a remarkable 1,335-1,063 (.557) record, ranking second all-time in both wins and games coached with 2,398 contests. Nelson led his teams to the playoffs 18 times, securing eight division titles along the way.
Before coaching, Nelson was a standout player at the University of Iowa, earning Team MVP, All-Big Ten, and two-time All-American honors. Drafted 17th overall in 1962 by the Chicago Zephyrs, he made his name primarily with the Boston Celtics, where he was a key contributor on five NBA championship teams (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976).
Known as an “iron man,” Nelson appeared in 465 consecutive games during his playing career.
The Chuck Daly Award recognizes coaches who have made significant and lasting contributions to the game. Nelson joins a prestigious list of past winners, including Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Larry Brown (2021), Pat Riley (2012), and Lenny Wilkens (2011).
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