Dave Nelson (basketball) explained

Dave Nelson
Position:Power forward / center
Height Cm:204
Weight Kg:98
Nationality:American / Australian
College:Fort Lewis (1977–1979)
Draft Year:1979
Career Start:1981
Career End:1995
Coach Start:1986
Coach End:1988
Years1:1981–1985
Team1:Canberra Cannons
Years2:1986
Team2:Brisbane Bullets
Years3:1986–1987
Team3:Brisbane Brewers
Years4:1988
Team4:Canberra Cannons
Years5:1989–1994
Team5:Toowoomba Mountaineers
Years6:1995
Team6:Canberra Cannons
Cyears1:1986
Cteam1:Brisbane Bullets (assistant/caretaker)
Cyears2:1987
Cteam2:Brisbane Lady Bullets
Cyears3:1988
Cteam3:Canberra Capitals
Highlights:

David Nelson (born) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played two years of college basketball for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks before playing eight seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) between 1981 and 1995. He won three NBL championships with the Canberra Cannons in 1983, 1984 and 1988. He became a naturalised Australian during his playing career. He also served as a head coach in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 1987 and 1988.

Early life

Nelson hails from Boulder, Colorado.[1]

College career

Nelson played two years of college basketball for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks between 1977 and 1979.[2] He was named second-team All-RMAC as a junior in 1977–78[3] and first-team All-RMAC as a senior in 1978–79.[4] He averaged 16.8 points as a junior and 19.0 points as a senior. As of 2022, his 1,058 career points ranked 28th all time in school history while his 455 career rebounds ranked 24th all time.

Professional career

In 1979, Nelson moved to Australia to play in the Australian-American Amateur Basketball League.[5] He was named the most valuable player in the league.[6]

In 1981, Nelson debuted in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the Canberra Cannons.[7] He was named in the All-NBL Team in his first season[8] after averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game.[9] He played in the 1982 NBL All-Star Game[10] and helped the Cannons win back-to-back NBL championships in 1983 and 1984. He was team captain in 1983[11] [12] and reached 100 NBL games and 2,000 points in 1984.[13] In 1985, he scored more than500 points for the Cannons but was out of action at different times for an operation on his foot and two broken ribs. Following the 1985 season, coach Bob Turner announced that Nelson would not be retained.

In February 1986, Nelson was appointed assistant coach of the Brisbane Bullets under head coach Brian Kerle while also being appointed administrator of the Brisbane Basketball Association (BBA). He worked in a full-time capacity for BBA and played for their state league team, the Brisbane Brewers, averaging 33 points and 14 rebounds per game.[14] He also joined the Bullets' playing group for the 1986 NBL season and served in a dual player-assistant role. In July 1986, he took over head coaching duties while Kerle was away with the Australian national team at the 1986 FIBA World Championship. Nelson served as caretaker player-coach for two games[15] and recorded one win and one loss.[16] He helped the Bullets reach the NBL grand final series, where they lost to the Adelaide 36ers.[17]

Nelson sat out the 1987 NBL season and instead played club basketball in Brisbane, where he "notched up his usual high tally of points with a constant flurry of three-pointers."[18]

In October 1987, Nelson signed to return to the Cannons as a player for the 1988 NBL season as well as filling the promotions, public relations and marketing position. He helped the Cannons win 11 straight victories at the end of the season and then won 100–91 in Canberra against the Adelaide 36ers in game one of the best-of-three semi-final series. In game two, he made three successive three-pointers to put the Cannons on the way to a 100–95 victory and a grand-final berth against the North Melbourne Giants.[19] After winning a third championship in 1988, he retired from the NBL[20] with 166 games and over 3000 points.

Nelson had a five-year stint with the Toowoomba Mountaineers, where he won back-to-back Queensland Basketball League (QBL) championships in 1990 and 1991.[21] [22]

Nelson returned to the Cannons in 1995 as a 39-year-old and had a seven-game stint in the 1995 NBL season. In 173 career games in the NBL, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Player profile

Nelson was considered a dynamic power forward with a "line dry jumpshot". He was renowned for his hard-working game and his outside shots. At six foot eight, he was also listed as a center in the NBL.[23] [24]

Coaching career

Nelson served as head coach of the Brisbane Lady Bullets of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) during the 1987 season.

After returning to Canberra, Nelson joined the Canberra Capitals as head coach for the 1988 season.[25] The team missed the playoffs with a fifth-place finish and a 13–9 record.[26] [27]

Personal life

In 1984, Nelson became eligible for Australian naturalisation.[28] By 1986, he was a naturalised Australian.

Nelson's retirement from the NBL coincided with him starting a barbecue spare rib business in Canberra.[29] He has been the owner and chef of two Mexican restaurants in Canberra,[30] where he had a cult following for his ribs and wings.[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Graham. Cooke. Nelson get coaching job with Bullets. February 6, 1986. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  2. Web site: Men's Basketball Record Book. Fort Lewis Skyhawks. December 26, 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226100150/https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/goskyhawks.com/documents/2022/12/29/Men_s_Basketball_Record_Book.pdf. February 26, 2024.
  3. Web site: 1978-79 RMAC Media Guide and Yearbook. RMAC. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227095521/https://static.rmacsports.org/custompages/Sports%20Information/Media%20Guide%20Digital%20Archive/1978-79/1978-79%20RMAC%20Media%20Guide%20and%20Yearbook.pdf. February 27, 2024. 14 (23).
  4. Web site: 1979-80 RMAC Media Guide and Yearbook. RMAC. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226100648/https://static.rmacsports.org/custompages/Sports%20Information/Media%20Guide%20Digital%20Archive/1979-80/1979-80%20RMAC%20Media%20Guide%20and%20Yearbook.pdf. February 26, 2024. 14 (23).
  5. Web site: Simpson. Malcolm. Dr David Adkins – The Quiet American. GlobalStarHolidays.com.au. March 13, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226101904/https://www.globalstarholidays.com.au/dr-david-adkins-the-quiet-american/. February 26, 2024.
  6. News: NMHU Cager To Play in Australia. April 25, 1980. Albuquerque Journal. February 26, 2024. Newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: David Nelson. andthefoul.net. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160322164242/http://andthefoul.net/NBLwiki/index.php?David%20Nelson. March 22, 2016.
  8. Web site: All NBL TEAMS. NBL.com.au. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20020206233741/http://nbl.com.au/www/genericpages.asp?gp=110. February 6, 2002. February 26, 2024.
  9. Web site: Player statistics for David Nelson. NBL. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226103917/https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190394900&client=0-189-88251-125697-11144594. February 26, 2024.
  10. Web site: FLASHBACK 25: April, 1982. BotiNagy.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226104354/http://botinagy.com/blog/flashback-25-april-1982/. February 26, 2024.
  11. News: Basketball's thinking team. February 25, 1983. The Canberra Times. February 27, 2024. Trove.
  12. News: Paul. Gover. Nelson signs on for 1984. July 20, 1983. The Canberra Times. February 28, 2024. Trove.
  13. News: Many highlights in Canberra and district sport; Raiders, Cannons in meteoric rise. December 30, 1984. The Canberra Times. February 27, 2024. Trove.
  14. News: Gary. Scholes. Dave Nelson keeps visit low key. June 26, 1986. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  15. News: Gary. Scholes. Bullets after repeat. July 11, 1986. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  16. Web site: League All-time Coaching Records . NBL.com.au . 1 December 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110305115000/http://www.nbl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/_temp_/coaches_win_loss_records.pdf . 5 March 2011.
  17. Web site: Nagy. Boti. NBL goes to three imports and opens door to Aussies abroad returning as 'marquee players'. Fox Sports. March 30, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227114645/https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/nbl-goes-to-three-imports-and-opens-door-to-aussies-abroad-returning-as-marquee-players/news-story/60f4bb40cfc4206a0806fcc72700872e. February 27, 2024. The Bullets' imports were Leroy Loggins and Cal Bruton, with Ron Radliff, Dave Nelson and Tom Gerhardt all naturalised....
  18. News: Gary. Scholes. Nelson comes back to the Cannons. October 9, 1987. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  19. News: Gary. Scholes. Nelson back in Cannons' colours. April 1, 1995. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  20. News: Gary. Scholes. Cannons' squad looks like a winner. February 18, 1989. The Canberra Times. February 27, 2024. Trove. Dave Nelson and Gary Ball have decided to retire but thankfully both have said that if we have any injury worries they will be available to help out....
  21. Web site: Onions. Lachlan. QBL legend Pop Dickerson names his greatest Mountaineers teammates of all time. The Toowoomba Chronicle. January 5, 2024. dead. https://archive.today/20240330084008/https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/qbl-legend-pop-dickerson-names-his-greatest-mountaineers-teammates-of-all-time/news-story/100ae3f0f3274b5be687fa5879553e47?amp&nk=87af262d9c3a1f4661a6392ce4b71ed8-1711788016. March 30, 2024.
  22. Web site: Historic Mines. HistoryOutThere.com. July 18, 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240312072937/https://historyoutthere.com/2021/07/18/historic-mines/. March 12, 2024.
  23. Web site: FLASHBACK 16: The Cannon, Aug 16, 1985. BotiNagy.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227120416/http://www.botinagy.com/blog/flashback-16-the-cannon-aug-16-1985/. February 27, 2024.
  24. Web site: FLASHBACK 23: The Cannon, April 13, 1985. BotiNagy.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240414113222/http://botinagy.com/blog/flashback-23-the-cannon-april-13-1985/. April 14, 2024.
  25. News: Gary. Scholes. Nelson predicts two wins. July 1, 1988. The Canberra Times. December 1, 2024. Trove.
  26. Web site: UC Capitals Media Guide 2019. WNBL. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227130822/https://wnbl.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UCCapitals_MediaGuide_2019.pdf. February 27, 2024. 4 (99).
  27. Web site: 2023-24 Media Guide. WNBL. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227130934/https://wnbl.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-24_MediaGuide_.pdf. February 27, 2024. 88.
  28. News: Paul. Gover. Victim of NBL's new import rule; Kirchmeyer leaves the Cannons. July 30, 1983. The Canberra Times. February 26, 2024. Trove.
  29. Web site: Moloney. John-Paul. Objects of affection: mementos only a Canberran would love. The Canberra Times. February 13, 2017. dead. https://archive.today/20240227104905/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6036530/objects-of-affection-mementos-only-a-canberran-would-love/. February 27, 2024.
  30. Web site: Rudra. Natasha. Restaurant Review: Cisco's Mexican, Kingston. The Sydney Morning Herald. January 25, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227105701/https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/restaurant-review-ciscos-mexican-kingston-20160126-gmdeqx.html. February 27, 2024.
  31. Web site: Hogan. Jil. Head south (of the lake) for a taste of Mexico at Cisco's. The Sydney Morning Herald. May 10, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227110229/https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/ciscos-restaurante-mexicano-review-20170510-gw1pc8.html. February 27, 2024.

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