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Mavericks guard Nick Van Exel gets directions from Dallas coach Don Nelson, center, and assistant coach Donnie Nelson during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL AINSWORTH – 168045<\/p>\n
The basketball world lost a legend of the game on August 9, 2026 when Don Nelson died at the age of 86<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nelson is an icon in NBA history, as he authored an illustrious basketball career both as a player and a coach. It was a career that impacted so many, including several NBA legends that attribute their success to Nelson.<\/p>\n Here are five things to know about Nelson and his NBA career, including his impactful stint with the Dallas Mavericks.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 1. Mavericks tenure<\/p>\n Nelson served as the head coach and general manager of the Mavericks from 1997-2005.<\/p>\n In eight seasons leading the Mavs, Nelson compiled a 339-251 record. His 339 wins are the second-most among head coaches in franchise history, trailing only Rick Carlisle (555 wins).\u00a0He was hired as the team’s general manager in Feb. 1997 and ten months into his tenure, he fired coach Jim Cleamons and took over the coaching duties himself.<\/p>\n The Mavericks enjoyed enormous success with Nelson leading the way after being a laughing stock of the NBA throughout most of the 1990s, as Dallas logged 50-plus wins from the 2000-01 season to the 2004-05 season under Nelson, including a 60-win campaign in 2002-03.<\/p>\n While his coaching success is a large part of his Mavs legacy, likely the biggest part of his legacy is that he …<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 2. Brought Dirk to Dallas<\/p>\n In one night, Nelson brought two future Hall of Famers to Dallas.<\/p>\n On June 24, 1998, the Mavericks acquired Dirk Nowitzki as the ninth pick in the NBA draft. Dallas selected Robert Traylor with the No. 6 pick and traded him to Milwaukee for the No. 9 pick, which was Nowitzki.<\/p>\n Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson, center, presents first-round draft choice Dirk\u00a0Nowitzki, left, and newly acquired guard Steve Nash with jerseys at a news conference on June 29, 1998 in Dallas.<\/p>\n Huy Nguyen\/File photo\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n \u201cNellie \u2026 You didn\u2019t just draft me,\u201d Nowitzki tweeted the day Nelson died<\/a>. \u201cYou believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve said it a million times and I will always say it: I don\u2019t think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything. RIP legend.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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