Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr among franchise legends to pay respects to Don Nelson after his passing

The NBA lost a legend when news broke of Don Nelson’s passing. After an NBA playing career that spanned from 1962 to 1976, Nelson embarked on one of the best runs as an NBA coach in league history. Nicknamed “Nellie,” Nelson coached the Milwaukee Bucks the season after his retirement. The Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and another stint with the Warriors were to follow until he put down the clipboard in 2010.

Nelson is the second-most-winningest coach in NBA history with 1,335 victories, a mark that only trails Gregg Popovich. The three-time Coach of the Year was a pioneer who found so much success because of his innovative systems and schemes. Nellie Ball, in particular, influenced the pace and space game that has taken over the NBA today, as well as the small ball systems that Steve Kerr implemented with the Warriors not long after Nelson left the team.

The Warriors released a heartfelt social media post remembering not just the great basketball mind that Nelson was, but the bigger-than-basketball personality that he was.

The Golden State Warriors mourn the passing of Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson.

“Nellie” was one of the most innovative and influential coaches in NBA history and an iconic figure in Warriors history. He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was… pic.twitter.com/1k5piSC6xX

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 9, 2026

A number of Warriors legends, including Kerr and Stephen Curry, followed up with tributes that pointed out just how special Nelson, who passed away at age 86, was.

“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today,” Kerr said. “He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play, and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not.”

“One of the biggest reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson,” Curry added. “The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court.”

While two coaches coached in between Nelson and Kerr, Nelson’s influence on the man still at the helm in Golden State was obvious. Curry, meanwhile, played just one season under Nelson, but the coaches’ acceptance of the 3-point shot and fast-paced offense surely played a part in Curry becoming a four-time champion, the best 3-point shooter in NBA history, and an all-time great point guard. Other Warriors greats, such as Baron Davis, Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond, released statements on Nelson’s impact on their careers and lives as a whole, too.

The post Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr among franchise legends to pay respects to Don Nelson after his passing appeared first on ClutchPoints.