- Former NBA small forward who played 11 NBA seasons with the Chicago Zephyrs (1963-1965), Los Angeles Lakers (1965-1967), and Boston Celtics (1967-1976). Jersey number #19 retired by the Celtics.
- NBA Coach of the Year in 1983, 1985, and 1992.
- Played college basketball at the University of Iowa. Drafted as the first pick in the third round of the 1963 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zephyrs.
- Head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks (1978-1987), Golden State Warriors (1988-1994), and New York Knicks (1996). Hired as general manager of the Dallas Mavericks for the 1996-1997 season and took over as coach in 1997. Resigned as Mavericks' coach midway through the 2004-2005 season and became a team consultant.
- Member of four NBA championship teams as a player with the Celtics (1967-1968, 68-69, 73-74, and 75-76). Scored what turned out to be the winning basket in Game 7 of the 1968-1969 NBA Finals against the Lakers in a 108-106 victory which was the final NBA game for Bill Russell.
- Was sued by the Warriors for signing a contract to coach the Knicks while still under contract in 1994. Nelson eventually won a $1.5 million settlement. However, everything was forgotten in the summer of 2006 as the Warrior rehired him as head coach.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Re-hired as head coach of the Golden State Warriors for the 2006-2007 season. (August 2006)
- Father of Donnie Nelson.
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