Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Iowa City, Iowa | September 10, 1962
Nationality | American |
Career information | |
High school | Worcester Academy (Worcester, Massachusetts) |
College | Wheaton (1982–1986) |
Coaching career | 1986–2002 |
Career history | |
As coach: | |
1986–1994 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
1995–1998 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
2000–2002 | Dallas Mavericks (assistant) |
Career highlights and awards | |
As executive:
|
Donn Charles Nelson (born September 10, 1962) 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 (NBA). He is the son of Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Nelson. In a 2007 Sports Illustrated article ranking the NBA's personnel bosses from 1 to 30, Nelson was ranked 2nd.[1] In a 2009 Yahoo Sports article, Nelson was ranked the third-best general manager of the decade after producing nine 50-plus-win seasons in a row and the first finals appearance in franchise history in 2006.[2] Nelson assembled the Mavericks team that would later win the 2011 NBA championship. Having served since 2005, Nelson was the longest-tenured general manager in the NBA at the time of his parting with the Mavericks in 2021.[citation needed]
Nelson is one of the co-owners of the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of the Mavericks, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth suburb of Frisco.[3]