Bucks honor Don Nelson, the winningest coach in franchise history

With the news of former player and head coach Don Nelson passing away at 86 years old, the sports world has been honoring the legacy left by the legendary basketball figure. As many have paid tribute to Nelson after his passing, the Milwaukee Bucks would honor his life after a memorable career with the franchise.

After Nelson was a player in the NBA, he would start his coaching career as an assistant with Milwaukee in 1976, then quickly became a head coach after 18 games in the season when Larry Costello resigned. He spent 11 seasons with the franchise, winning 540 games, which is out of the whopping 1,335 wins, the second-most all-time.

The Bucks would post a statement, expressing how they’re “deeply saddened” by Nelson’s passing.

“During his 11 seasons as Bucks coach from 1976-87, Nellie won two of his three NBA Coach of the Year awards and established himself as one of the most innovative and visionary leaders in basketball history, pioneering the concept of the point forward,” the team wrote. “He helped define one of the greatest eras in franchise history and built a standard of excellence that endured long after his tenure.”

The Bucks continue remembering Don Nelson

While he had a massive impact on the NBA at-large, his time with the Bucks will be remembered forever, as the 540 wins are the most by a head coach in the franchise’s history. Winning the NBA Coach of the Year award twice with the franchise, he would continue coaching in the NBA until 2010.

“Selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, Nellie was known not only for his basketball brilliance, but also for his authenticity and larger-than-life personality, often punctuated by his trademark fish ties on the sidelines,” the team wrote. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Nellie’s family, friends, former players, colleagues, fans and all who knew him. He will always be a treasured part of Bucks history and one of the most influential figures the game has ever known.”

There is no denying that Nelson’s legacy has been immortalized, having been inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2012.

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