1. Donn Charles Nelson was born on September 10,1962 and is an American basketball executive who previously held general manager and president of basketball operations roles for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association.
22 Facts About Donnie Nelson
1. 2.
Donnie Nelson is the son of Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Nelson.
3.
Donnie Nelson assembled the Mavericks team that would later win the 2011 NBA championship.
4.
Donnie Nelson is the second of four children, and the only son, of basketball coach Don and Sharon Nelson.
5.
Donnie Nelson was born in Iowa City during his father's final year at the University of Iowa, and was raised in Natick, Massachusetts when his father played for the Boston Celtics.
6.
Don's job coaching the Milwaukee Bucks had made the family move to Brookfield, Wisconsin, and the same day Donnie Nelson graduated and was driven back home by Sharon in 1982, Don decided to leave his wife.
7.
Once Donnie Nelson told his father about Marciulionis and his skills, the Warriors would draft him in the sixth round of the 1987 NBA draft.
8.
From 1995 to 1998, Donnie Nelson was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns.
9.
Donnie Nelson was a major influence in getting the team to pick Steve Nash, who he met while Nash played in high school, and would later befriend as Nash became the star of Santa Clara University.
10.
Donnie Nelson was promoted to president of basketball operations in July 2002, and he took over as general manager on March 19,2005, when his father stepped down as coach and general manager.
11.
Donnie Nelson acquired the core group of players on the 2011 championship Mavs roster through key trades and success in the NBA draft.
12.
Donnie Nelson was responsible for adding 2007 MVP, 2011 NBA Finals MVP, and 14-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki via trade on NBA draft night.
13.
Donnie Nelson was paired with fast-rising sensation Luka Doncic, the nearly unanimous 2019 Rookie of the Year, acquired through a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018.
14.
Donnie Nelson has earned a reputation in basketball as arguably the greatest international scout of all-time considering his groundbreaking involvement in Eastern Europe and China combined with his role in acquiring future MVPs Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, and five-time All-Star Luka Doncic.
15.
Donnie Nelson famously advocated for the Mavericks to draft future MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013, only to be rebuffed by owner Mark Cuban.
16.
In 2020, Donnie Nelson finished in 8th place for the Executive of the Year Award.
17.
Since 1990, Donnie Nelson has served as an assistant coach for the Lithuania national basketball team.
18.
Donnie Nelson serves as Honorary Ambassador for the League of Industries.
19.
In 1994, Donnie Nelson served as a scout for USA Basketball at the World Championships in Toronto.
20.
Donnie Nelson serves as the chief advisor for the China national basketball team.
21.
Donnie Nelson worked with the NBA's African Top 100 campaign, an outreach program providing educational opportunities to challenged African athletes.
22.
Donnie Nelson is the founder of the "Global Games" in Dallas, which gives area high school kids a chance to test themselves against the top Junior National teams in the world.