Golden State Warriors to honor Don Nelson with ‘Nellie’ jersey band throughout the 2026-27 season

The Golden State Warriors have announced that they will honor Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson with a commemorative ‘Nellie’ jersey band on their uniforms throughout the entire 2026-27 NBA season. The tribute comes following Nelson's passing at the age of 86 on August 9th.

Golden State Warriors 2026-27 'Nellie' Memorial Jersey Band

The tribute features a bright yellow shoulder band printed with his iconic nickname, "NELLIE", in blue typography. The band is placed on the upper left side of the jersey, located directly above the team's IREN sponsor badge.

Don Nelson's Legacy in Golden State

Don Nelson enjoyed two memorable head coaching stints with the Warriors (1988–95 and 2006–10), accumulating 422 regular-season victories with the franchise:

The "Run TMC" Era: Nelson orchestrated the high-powered, fan-favorite offensive era led by Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin.

The "We Believe" Era: In 2007, he coached the No. 8 seed Warriors to a historic first-round playoff upset over the top-seeded, 67-win Dallas Mavericks.

Over a legendary 31-year coaching career that also included stints with Milwaukee, New York, and Dallas, Nelson won three NBA Coach of the Year awards and retired with 1,335 regular-season wins, which stood as the most in NBA history at the time.