Don Nelson is a former professional basketball player and a coach. Don Nelson began his professional basketball career in 1962 in the small forward position. Nelson was chosen by the Chicago Zephyrs with the 17th overall choice in the third round.
Nelson not only played for his country at the international level but also for his national team.
He grew up playing basketball and honing his shooting skills in the chicken yard with his family and two sisters.
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Childhood, Parents, and Education
Don Nelson was born on May 15, 1940, in Muskegon, Michigan to Agnes and Arvid Nelson (mother).
Arvid, his father, was a former employee of the Rock Island Arsenal.
He grew up with his two sisters, as was previously indicated.
When Nelson was little, he began to play basketball in the chicken yard.
In addition, he had a strong enthusiasm for basketball.
In order to practice shooting, he also built a basket out of a spokeless bicycle wheel.
Nelson, on the other hand, graduated from Rock Island High School.
He frequently visited the YMCA to practice when he was in school.
Coach Bob Riley used to instruct Nelson in the game of basketball. Nelson scored an average of 12.6 as a junior.
Additionally, he competed against Ottawa High School and Moline High School.
In addition, his father had always wished for him to work as a watch repairman.
Net Worth & Assets
Don Nelson has a net worth of $30 million and he currently earns a staggering $15 million a year in salary.
Nelson has also put his magnificent Hawaii property on the market for $15 million.
On Haena Point, the house may be found. This has also aided him in generating additional revenue.
Nelson now spends the majority of his time in Paia, Maui, where he also owns the property.
Facts of Don Nelson
| Full Name | Donald Arvid Nelson |
| Known As | Don Nelson |
| Birth Date | May 15, 1940 |
| Age | 82 years old |
| Place of Birth | Muskegon, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player, Coach |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Nationality | American |
| Father’s Name | Arvid Nelson |
| Mother’s Name | Agnes Nelson |
| Siblings | Two siblings |
| High School | Rock Island |
| College | Lowa University |
| Height | 6ft 6 in (approx 1.98 m) |
| Weight | 95 kg (approx 210 lbs) |
| Body Type | Athlete |
| Position | Small Forward |
| Draft | 1962 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Joy Wolfgram |
| Children Name | Donnie Nelson |
| Net Worth | $30 Million |
| Salary | $15 Million |
| Active Years (As Player) | 14 Years |
| Social Media | Not Available |
| Merch | Don Nelson Signed Card |
| Last Update | June 2022 |
College Career
Nelson began playing in his sophomore year after playing throughout his academic career. At Lowa University, he started off playing for coach Schuerman.
Nelson’s debut season at Lowa saw him average 15.8 points and 10.0 rebounds. He had to leave Lowa for a while due to his involvement in the 1961 college basketball gambling scandal.
Nelson, who was eventually reinstated by the NBA, was never charged with the crime. On the other hand, he had an 18-6 record at Lowa and placed second in the Big Ten Conference.
He was also a teammate-focused player who consistently received plaudits for his great play.
Nelson finished by surpassing all previous scorers at Lowa University. Over the course of his college career, he scored 21.1 points and grabbed 10.9 rebounds.
Professional Career
With the Chicago Zephyrs, Nelson began his professional career in 1962. He only played with the Zephyrs for one season, but during that season he averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Nelson was then dealt with the Los Angeles Lakers. Under Fred Schaus’ direction, he participated in 80 games for the Lakers.
Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, two players who are in the Hall of Fame, were among his teammates.
Nelson joined the Boston Celtics on October 28, 1965, as a free agent. He also contributed to the Celtics’ many championship victories.
In 1968, he averaged a score of 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, helping the Celtics to win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Championship.
In addition, Nelson helped the Celtics secure to 11th title in 13 seasons, including Nelson’s third title with the Celtics.
Boston Celtics were the last overseas team Nelson played for.
Between 1974 to 1976, he successfully won the sixth crown of the NBA championship with the Celtics. 9.1 points and 2.9 rebounds were the average stats of Nelson in the playoffs.
Coaching Career
After declaring his retirement from the international squad as a player, Nelson decided to continue his career as a coach.
He began his assistant coaching career with his former 1974 NBA final opponent Milwaukee Bucks. A year after coaching, Nelson was named general manager of the Bucks.
He started dealing with players with the initial transaction of Swen Nater with Marques Johnson.
On November 25, 1977, he managed to hit the best comeback in NBA history. Nelson’s team made the difference of 29 points win in the last quarter.
Soon after coaching 11 seasons for the Bucks, he opted to depart the team. Besides that, he was selected as the NBA Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1985.
Moreover, he became the third coach to win 1000 games in NBA history on December 29, 2011. Nelson also broke the record victory of 1333 career games, passing Lenny Wilkens.
To sum up, Nelson concluded his career with a regular-season victory of 1335 games.
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Arrangements and Affairs
Don Nelson, a former head coach and professional basketball player from the United States, also had to deal with marital problems.
First, Nelson wed Sharon Nelson, a Washington-based politician in the United States.
Donnie Nelson is the only son that the couple had together.
The couple split in 1989 for a variety of reasons.
The filings state that since their divorce, Nelson has paid Sharon Nelson an amount of $50,000 every year.
As Nelson attempted to cut back on the amount of money he provided to his ex-wife, Sharon Nelson, the divorce troubles persisted until 2013.
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Don and Sharon Nelson got divorced, and in 1991, in the Oakland Coliseum, Don wed Joy Wolfgram.
Six children are thus a blessing for the couple.
With the exception of Donnie Nelson, the names of the kids are not made public online.
Height, Weight, and Age
Don Nelson is 82 years old right now.
Nelson is described as being tall, standing at 6 feet 6 inches (approx 1.98 m).
His body weighs about 95 kg thanks to a healthy diet and the ideal height for an athlete.
