The heartfelt words of Dirk Nowitzki to Don Nelson: "I can only say thank you for everything"

The NBA lost one of its great legends this Sunday with the passing of Don Nelson. The former player for the Boston Celtics was a five-time NBA champion with the Boston franchise in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976. He later had a successful career as a coach, especially with the Dallas Mavericks from 1997 to 2005.

It was in Dallas where Nelson notably believed in a young Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki paid tribute to his first coach upon learning of his passing.

"Nellie... You not only drafted me, you believed in me. You saw things in my game before I even knew what I was capable of," wrote the German. Nowitzki emphasized that he has always maintained that his career would not have taken the same path without Nelson and thanked him for giving him the freedom to develop his game. "All I can say is thank you. For everything. Rest in peace, legend," he concluded.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las sentidas palabras de Dirk Nowitzki hacia Don Nelson: "Solo puedo decirte gracias por todo"