The Hall of Famer died this weekend at the age of 86 years old.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson died over the weekend at the age of 86 years old, leaving behind an incredible basketball legacy that saw him win five NBA titles as a player and become the second-winningest coach in NBA history.
A 14-year player, Nelson was also a head coach for 31 years, giving him nearly 50 years of service to the NBA game. He's truly one of the most decorated people to ever represent the league.
As a player, Nelson won all five titles with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s and 1970s, playing with some of the franchise's true legends like Bill Russell and John Havlicek.
The Celtics retired his number 19 in 1978.
So the question is, how should the team honor him in the 2026-27 season?
A jersey patch seems appropriate
In 2022-23, the NBA had every player wear a No. 6 patch in honor of Russell's passing, which you can see in the picture below
While Nelson might not get that treatment from the league as a whole, he should get that treatment from the Celtics individually. Not only will it be a good and direct way to honor Nelson, it will also be a good way to educate younger fans who did not see him play, preserving his legacy even further.
Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball against Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday (21) during the first half at TD Garden. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY SportsA special tribute at the home opener?
The NBA schedule is not out yet, so we don't know exactly when the home opener is, but whenever it is, it should feature a tribute video to Nelson. Perhaps the players could come out in No. 19 warm-up jerseys, paying homage to "Nellie" once more.
Something special against a team he coached?
Nelson spent 11 years as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors and 11 as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Perhaps the Celtics could organize a special night when one of those two teams comes to town, inviting Nelson's family.
If they would rather do a ceremony this way - rather than on Opening night - that would be appropriate as well.
No matter what
No matter what they ultimately choose, the Celtics need to find a good way to honor Nelson, who is one of the important figures in franchise history. His shot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals helped seal one of those five titles that he won as a player for Boston.
You can see that show below, courtesy of Celtics radio broadcaster Sean Grande.
