James Donaldson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
James Lee Donaldson III (born August 16, 1957 in Heacham
, England
) is a retired professional English
-American basketball
player who grew up in California
and played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association
.
Donaldson, a 7'2" center
, starred at Luther Burbank High School and Washington State University
in the late 1970s before being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
in 1979. However, he spent his first professional season abroad, with the Italian Serie A
's 3A Antonini Siena
.
Donaldson played three seasons with Seattle before moving on to the San Diego (later Los Angeles) Clippers
. During the 1984–85 NBA season, he led the league in field goal percentage at 0.637 — still one of the ten highest percentages in NBA history.
Donaldson joined the Dallas Mavericks
in 1985. He had his finest years while playing for the Mavericks, providing rebounding
and shot-blocking
to complement Dallas' star-studded line-up, which included Mark Aguirre
, Rolando Blackman
, Roy Tarpley
, Derek Harper
, and Brad Davis
. Donaldson himself earned a spot on the 1988 All-Star Team
during a season in which the Mavericks reached the Western Conference
Finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers
.
After brief stints with the New York Knicks
(traded midway through 1991-92
for Brian Quinnett
) and Utah Jazz
(49 games in two seasons combined) in the early 1990s, injuries forced Donaldson into retirement from the NBA. He left the league in 1995, with 8,203 career points, 7,492 career rebounds and 1,267 career blocks. He played in 957 NBA games without ever attempting a 3-point shot, a record among players from the 3-point era.
Overseas, he played in Greece
for Iraklis B.C. (1993–94, in between his Utah spells), Caja San Fernando (Spain
, in 1996-97), Snai Montecatini
(Italy
, 1997–98, for only six games), Breogán Lugo
(Spain, two stints, in 1998 and 1999) and Gymnastikos S. Larissas (Greek Second Division
, 1998–99), retiring for good at the age of 41.
Upon retiring, Donaldson settled in the Seattle
area, where he runs the Donaldson Clinic, a physical therapy
business in Mill Creek, Wash. He is also a motivational speaker.
In 2009, Donaldson ran for the non-partisan office of Seattle mayor and came in fourth among the candidates.
In 2010, Donaldson joined the College Success Foundation as the Director of the Tacoma College Success Foundation.
Heacham
Heacham is a village of 4,707 inhabitants, located in north-west Norfolk, England, between King's Lynn, to the south and Hunstanton, about to the north, on The Wash.- History :...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a retired professional English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who grew up in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Donaldson, a 7'2" center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, starred at Luther Burbank High School and Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in the late 1970s before being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in 1979. However, he spent his first professional season abroad, with the Italian Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
's 3A Antonini Siena
Mens Sana Basket
Mens Sana Basket, more frequently referred to as Montepaschi Siena, is an Italian League professional basketball club from Siena. More precisely, it is the now-autonomous basketball section of the comprehensive sports club Polisportiva Mens Sana...
.
Donaldson played three seasons with Seattle before moving on to the San Diego (later Los Angeles) Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. During the 1984–85 NBA season, he led the league in field goal percentage at 0.637 — still one of the ten highest percentages in NBA history.
Donaldson joined the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
in 1985. He had his finest years while playing for the Mavericks, providing rebounding
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and shot-blocking
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
to complement Dallas' star-studded line-up, which included Mark Aguirre
Mark Aguirre
Mark Anthony Aguirre is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association. Aguirre played from 1981–1994 and won two championships with the Detroit Pistons after being sent to Detroit from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Adrian Dantley...
, Rolando Blackman
Rolando Blackman
Rolando Antonio Blackman is a retired professional basketball player. He was an All-Star who spent most of his career with the Dallas Mavericks...
, Roy Tarpley
Roy Tarpley
Roy James Tarpley is an American former professional basketball player. He played the power forward and center positions, earning an NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1988. Despite his talent, Tarpley became notable during his career for being banned from the NBA because of his drug addiction...
, Derek Harper
Derek Harper
Derek Ricardo Harper is a retired American professional basketball player from the University of Illinois, who spent 16 seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.-College:After graduating from...
, and Brad Davis
Brad Davis (basketball)
Bradley Ernest Davis is a retired professional basketball player who spent the bulk of his National Basketball Association career with the Dallas Mavericks.-Biography:...
. Donaldson himself earned a spot on the 1988 All-Star Team
1988 NBA All-Star Game
This was the 38th NBA All-Star game, played on February 7, 1988. It was played at the Chicago Bulls' home stadium and Michael Jordan was the game's MVP....
during a season in which the Mavericks reached the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
Finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
After brief stints with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(traded midway through 1991-92
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
for Brian Quinnett
Brian Quinnett
Brian Ralph Quinnett is a retired American professional basketball player; a 6'8" small forward.Upon graduation from Washington State University, Quinnett was selected by the New York Knicks in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft...
) and Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(49 games in two seasons combined) in the early 1990s, injuries forced Donaldson into retirement from the NBA. He left the league in 1995, with 8,203 career points, 7,492 career rebounds and 1,267 career blocks. He played in 957 NBA games without ever attempting a 3-point shot, a record among players from the 3-point era.
Overseas, he played in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for Iraklis B.C. (1993–94, in between his Utah spells), Caja San Fernando (Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in 1996-97), Snai Montecatini
RB Montecatini Terme
RB Montecatini Terme, also known for sponsorship reasons as Agricola Gloria Montecatini is an Italian basketball team from the town of Montecatini Terme....
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 1997–98, for only six games), Breogán Lugo
CB Breogan
Club Baloncesto Breogán, S.A.D. is a professional Basketball team based in Lugo, Galicia. The team currently plays in league LEB.-Roster:-Trophies:*2nd division championships: ** 2ª División: 1975** 1ª División B: 1984, 1988...
(Spain, two stints, in 1998 and 1999) and Gymnastikos S. Larissas (Greek Second Division
A2 Ethniki
The HEBA A2 or commonly called, the Greek A2 League, is the second division of the highest professional basketball competition among pro clubs in Greece. It is operated by the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association . The league has 16 teams...
, 1998–99), retiring for good at the age of 41.
Upon retiring, Donaldson settled in the Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
area, where he runs the Donaldson Clinic, a physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
business in Mill Creek, Wash. He is also a motivational speaker.
In 2009, Donaldson ran for the non-partisan office of Seattle mayor and came in fourth among the candidates.
In 2010, Donaldson joined the College Success Foundation as the Director of the Tacoma College Success Foundation.
External links
- NBA.com historical playerfile
- Stats at BasketballReference.com
- Basketpedya career data
- James Donaldson for Seattle City Council website
- Former Sonic Donaldson ready for new challenge - ex-NBA, WSU player plans to run for City Council by Dan Raley, Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle Post-IntelligencerThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, 7/8/08 - Ex-Sonic James Donaldson in for Seattle mayor