Don Nelson is finally headed to Springfield, Massachusetts. According to the Dallas Morning News, Nelson is going to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year. The induction class has not yet been officially announced.
No coach in NBA history has recorded more wins than Nelson, who won 1,335 games during his coaching career. Nelson spent eight seasons as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, leading them to the playoffs four times. Nelson resigned during the 2004-05 season, but remained the general manager until the end of the season. Nelson left the Mavericks as the franchise leader in wins.
Though Nelson never won an NBA title, he is still regarded as one of the top coaches in NBA history. Nelson was an innovator, inventing a new offense known as Nellie Ball, where athleticism was emphasized, as well as three-point attempts.
After leaving the Mavericks, Nelson went back to Golden State, where he coached the Warriors for four more seasons between 2006 and 2010.
For more on the Mavericks, be sure to head over to Mavs Moneyball and join the discussion.