The NBA community is mourning Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson following his death Sunday, with several prominent Golden State Warriors figures paying tribute to his influence on basketball.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described Nelson as an innovator whose unconventional ideas helped shape the modern NBA.
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today. He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others did not,” Kerr said. “So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game. His impact on the Warriors is just as significant.”
Nelson coached Golden State during two separate stints and guided the franchise to six playoff appearances. He finished his career with 1,335 regular-season victories, a league record until Gregg Popovich surpassed him in 2022.
Stephen Curry also remembered Nelson, who played an important role in Golden State selecting him in the 2009 NBA Draft.
“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. He taught me a lot during our one season together [2009-2010], and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota,” Curry said. “We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game.”
Former Warriors star Tim Hardaway, who played for Nelson in both Golden State and Dallas, also reflected on their relationship and the confidence his coach gave him.
“Nellie believed in me from the beginning and gave me the confidence and freedom to play my game. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the special years we shared with Run TMC,” Hardaway said. “Nellie was ahead of his time, and there was nobody else like him. He had an incredible impact on my career and on the game of basketball. I’m going to miss him, and my thoughts and prayers are with Joy, Donnies, and the entire Nelson family.”
Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, other Warriors greats react to Don Nelson’s death https://t.co/20Z2wifHah pic.twitter.com/93elEqVy2l
— New York Post (@nypost) August 9, 2026
