Don Nelson's death sparked reactions from some of the NBA's biggest figures, but one of the most significant for Los Angeles came from Luka Dončić.

The Los Angeles Lakers player dedicated a message this Sunday to the legendary coach, who died at the age of 86 and left a deep mark on basketball, particularly for his way of understanding the game and the trust he showed toward international players.

Dončić remembered Nelson with words of respect and gratitude through his social networks, just a few hours after the former coach's family confirmed his death.

"It's a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson. I have a lot of respect for him and everything he did for this sport, especially the way he believed in international players. I'm grateful for the time I spent with him. I'm thinking today of the entire Nelson family. I loved meeting you, Coach."

The message has a special meaning due to the relationship that Nelson maintained with the Dallas Mavericks environment, the franchise in which Dončić began his career in the NBA and where the former coach left one of his greatest contributions.

Don Nelson and his bond with Luka Dončić

Although Nelson was not Dončić's coach during his time in Dallas, the two developed a close relationship.

In June 2025, Nelson appeared at a press conference in Oklahoma City before Game 2 of the NBA Finals and wore sneakers from Dončić's line. During that meeting he referred to the Slovenian as a close friend.

The appearance occurred just a few months after the Mavericks sent Dončić to the Lakers in one of the NBA's biggest moves in recent years.

Nelson also had a particular connection to Dončić's career through his son, Donnie Nelson, who headed Dallas' sports office until 2021.

It was during Donnie's tenure that the Mavericks acquired Dončić in the 2018 draft.

Atlanta selected the Slovenian with the third overall pick and subsequently sent him to Dallas in exchange for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick.

Dončić won Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was subsequently selected to the All-NBA first team five times with the Mavericks. In 2024 he led Dallas to the NBA Finals against Boston.

In February 2025, his time with the Mavericks ended with the trade that took him to the Lakers, where he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 28 games for the rest of that season.

Nelson helped change the way international players are viewed

One of the reasons why Dončić's message has special relevance is precisely what the player highlighted: the trust that Nelson had in international basketball players.

“Especially because of the way he believed in international players,” the Lakers player wrote.

During his coaching career, Nelson worked with some of the outsiders who helped transform the NBA.

In Golden State he managed Šarūnas Marčiulionis, one of the first players from the Soviet Union to reach the league, in addition to working with Manute Bol.

As coach and general manager of the Mavericks, Nelson was directly involved in the arrival of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash to Dallas in 1998.

Nowitzki also dedicated a message to Nelson after learning of his death and recalled the trust he received from the coach from the beginning of his career.

"Nellie... You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I even imagined I was capable of doing them. I've said it a million times and I'll always say it: I don't think my career would have turned out the way it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. All I can say is thank you for everything."

Nelson's influence also reached Wang Zhizhi, who became the first Chinese player to play in an NBA game when he debuted with Dallas in April 2001.

Don Nelson's footprint in Dallas

Nelson took over as coach and general manager of the Mavericks before the 1997-98 season.

During his eight seasons at the helm of Dallas, he achieved a record of 339 wins and 251 losses before leaving the position in March 2005.

His greatest legacy in the organization, however, was related to the decisions that helped build a new generation of talent.

The arrival of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash made Dallas one of the most relevant teams in the NBA during the first years of the 21st century.

Nowitzki would end up becoming one of the greatest figures in franchise history and lead the Mavericks to the NBA championship in 2011.

Nelson was not in that title, but his influence in building that team is one of the reasons why his name remains linked to Dallas history.

Don Nelson, a career that transcended victories

Before becoming one of the NBA's most innovative coaches, Nelson had a 14-season playing career and won five championships with the Boston Celtics.

He later coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks for 31 seasons.

He finished his coaching career with 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses in the regular season.

For several years he was the coach with the most wins in NBA history, until Gregg Popovich surpassed his record in March 2022.

Nelson was voted NBA Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

He was also recognized for a philosophy that broke with several of the league's traditional conventions. His teams used small lineups, greater speed, and players capable of playing different positions, concepts that became increasingly common over time.

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