Don Nelson’s basketball legacy did not end when he stepped away from the NBA. It continued through his family, particularly his eldest son Donnie Nelson, who went on to establish his own influential career in professional basketball.
The Hall of Fame coach and former Boston Celtics champion was the father of five children: Donnie, Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee. His children grew up around the sport while their father moved through a remarkable career as an NBA player, coach and executive.
Don Nelson died on August 9, 2026, at age 86. His family said he passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones in Frisco, Texas, following declining health after a stroke.
His children and extended family remained an important part of his life, while his eldest son became one of the most recognizable basketball executives of his generation.
His Five Children
Don Nelson had five children: Donnie, Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee.
The family experienced an unusual childhood because their father was constantly involved in professional basketball. Nelson spent 14 seasons as an NBA player before beginning a coaching career that eventually lasted more than three decades.
As a result, basketball was never far from the Nelson household.
Although Donnie became the best-known member of the next generation in professional basketball, the Nelson children maintained their own lives away from the intense public attention surrounding their father.
Donnie Nelson
Donnie Nelson followed his father into basketball and eventually built a career that extended well beyond coaching.
He became closely associated with the Dallas Mavericks, serving as the franchise’s general manager and president of basketball operations for many years.
His work in Dallas made him one of the most respected executives in the NBA, particularly for his international scouting.
Like his father, Donnie was willing to look beyond conventional basketball markets when searching for talent.
Dirk Nowitzki
One of Donnie Nelson’s most important contributions came through his involvement in the Mavericks’ acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki arrived in the NBA as a young German prospect with enormous potential. He eventually became one of the greatest international players in league history.
The German forward spent his entire NBA career with Dallas, won the 2007 MVP award and led the Mavericks to their first championship in 2011.
Donnie’s belief in international talent reflected an approach that had also characterized his father’s basketball philosophy.
Luka Dončić
Donnie Nelson’s reputation for international scouting continued into the next generation with Luka Dončić.
The Slovenian star entered the NBA after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young players. Dallas selected him with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after acquiring the selection from Atlanta.
Donnie Nelson was part of the Mavericks organization at the time and played an important role in the franchise’s decision-making surrounding the young guard.
Dončić quickly became a franchise superstar and one of the NBA’s most influential players.
The connection between Donnie’s scouting philosophy and his father’s willingness to embrace unconventional talent is one of the most interesting parts of the Nelson basketball story.
Father and Son
Donnie did not simply work in the same industry as his father. The two also worked together directly.
He served as an assistant coach under Don Nelson during portions of his father’s coaching career, including with the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks.
Their professional relationship gave Donnie a firsthand opportunity to learn from one of the NBA’s most unconventional coaches.
Don Nelson was known for challenging traditional basketball thinking, and many of those principles influenced the way Donnie approached talent evaluation and team building.
The father-son partnership therefore extended beyond family life and into the NBA itself.
International Basketball
Donnie’s basketball career also reached beyond the NBA.
He served as an assistant coach with the Lithuanian national team, gaining experience in international basketball and further developing his reputation as a global-minded basketball executive.
That international perspective became one of the defining features of his career.
It also mirrored his father’s willingness to recognize players and styles that did not always fit traditional American basketball expectations.
Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee
Don Nelson’s other children were Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee.
Unlike Donnie, they did not become prominent NBA executives or coaches, and considerably less information about their private lives has been made public.
That difference is important. Don Nelson’s fame placed his family in the public eye, but his children were not all seeking careers in professional sports.
Their lives remained considerably more private than Donnie’s, particularly as he became increasingly involved in NBA decision-making.
His Family Life
Don Nelson’s children were part of a blended family that changed over the course of his life.
He was married to Sharon Nelson earlier in his life and later married Joy Nelson in 2001.
Through his family, Nelson eventually became a grandfather and great-grandfather. His later years were spent with an extended family that included multiple generations.
Despite decades of fame, he often maintained a more private life away from the basketball court.
His Final Days
When Don Nelson died at 86 in August 2026, members of his family were reportedly with him.
His death marked the end of an extraordinary life that included five NBA championships as a player, a Hall of Fame coaching career and a lasting influence on modern basketball.
For his children, however, the loss was also deeply personal.
The public remembered Nelson as “Nellie,” the innovative coach who introduced unconventional lineups and helped reshape the NBA. His family knew him in a much more intimate role—as a father, grandfather and longtime family figure.
A Family Legacy
Don Nelson’s influence on basketball can be measured through championships and coaching victories, but his family’s connection to the sport adds another dimension to his story.
His son Donnie established an important NBA career of his own, helping the Dallas Mavericks identify international stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić.
The similarities between father and son are difficult to miss. Both were willing to trust talent that others sometimes overlooked, and both believed basketball could be played and understood beyond traditional boundaries.
Don Nelson leaves behind five children—Donnie, Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee—along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His name will remain permanently connected to NBA history, but his legacy also lives through the family he raised.
For fans searching for “Don Nelson children,” the Hall of Fame coach was the father of five: Donnie, Julie, Chris, Katie and Lee Nelson. Of them, Donnie became the most prominent in professional basketball, creating a remarkable second chapter in the Nelson family’s NBA story.
