The 25 best NBA players never to make an All-Star game — 9. Don Nelson
While famous for his demeanor and offensive innovation as an NBA head coach, Don Nelson first made his mark as a forward on the dynastic Boston Celtics of the 1960s and 70s. Drafted by the Chicago Zephyrs in 1962 (a very-early precursor to today’s Washington Wizards), he bounced around the league before joining the Celtics in 1965.
Nelson would go on to win five championships with the franchise, along with John Havlicek serving as a bridge player from the Bill Russell title teams and the Havlicek – Dave Cowens teams, which won two titles in the 1970s. An offensively gifted forward, Nelson was something of a super-sub during his time in Boston.
In the wake of Russell’s retirement after the 1968-69 season, Nelson took on a greater role in the offense. He finished second to Havlicek in scoring in 1969-70 and averaged double-digit points eight straight seasons. After retiring in 1976, he went on to become a Hall of Fame coach, pioneering the concept of the “point forward” and winning 1,335 games – the most all-time.
Closest Call: While Nelson’s numbers were generally deflated by the quality of his teammates and his role, he had his best season in 1969-70. With the Eastern Conference in a brief moment of opportunity before an influx of talent, Nelson had a shot, but lesser second-options on other teams made the cut as the Celtics sent only Havlicek to the game.