The Boston Celtics family lost one of its own on Sunday when Don Nelson passed away at the age of 86. For more than a decade in green, Nelson embodied the toughness, unselfishness, and quiet excellence that defined the franchise during one of its most successful eras.
Signed as a free agent in the fall of 1965 after brief stops with the Chicago Zephyrs and Los Angeles Lakers, Nelson arrived in Boston as an undersized forward with a reliable jump shot and a willingness to do whatever the team required.
Under Red Auerbach and later alongside player-coach Bill Russell, he quickly found his place. In his first season he averaged just over ten points and five rebounds while helping the Celtics claim the 1966 championship.
Four more titles followed in 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976, making Nelson one of the relatively few players to collect five championship rings while wearing the Celtics uniform.
He was never the flashiest name on those rosters. Standing next to Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, and later Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White, Nelson thrived as a sixth man and eventual starter who could score when needed, rebound, and defend without demanding the spotlight.
His most memorable moment came in Game 7 of the 1969 Finals against the Lakers. With the Celtics clinging to a lead in the final minutes, Nelson launched a jumper from the foul line that bounced high off the back rim before dropping through the net.
The basket provided crucial breathing room on the way to Boston’s eleventh title in thirteen seasons.
After Russell and several veterans retired, Nelson became a steady veteran presence during the rebuilding years. He set a franchise record for consecutive games played and mentored the next generation of Celtics as the team returned to the top of the league in the mid-1970s.
When he retired following the 1976 championship, the organization retired his No. 19 jersey two years later, a permanent place in the rafters alongside the franchise’s greatest names.
Nelson’s later fame as an innovative Hall of Fame coach who amassed the second-most wins in NBA history only adds to the pride Celtics fans feel in claiming him as one of their own.
Yet for those who remember the Garden in the late 1960s and 1970s, he will always first be the dependable forward in green who helped keep the banners coming.
The Celtics organization and its supporters extend deepest sympathy to Nelson’s family. His contributions to the championship tradition remain woven into the fabric of the franchise.
