Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson

Nelson with the Mavericks in November 2014
No. 1 – Denver Nuggets
Position	Point guard
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1982-02-09) February 9, 1982 Chester, Pennsylvania
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	Chester (Chester, Pennsylvania)
College	Saint Joseph's (2000–2004)
NBA draft	2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20th overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career	2004–present
Career history
2004–2014	Orlando Magic
2014	Dallas Mavericks
2014–2015	Boston Celtics
2015–present	Denver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star (2009) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2005) National college player of the year (2004) Consensus first-team All-American (2004) Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (2004) 3x First-team All-Atlantic 10 (2002–2004) Second-team All-Atlantic 10 (2001) 2x Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team (2003, 2004) AP Honorable Mention All-American (2003)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA U21 World Championship 2001 Saitama Team competition

Jameer Nelson (born February 9, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Saint Joseph's University before being drafted 20th overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. He was later traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night and went on to play ten seasons with the franchise, earning his only All-Star nod in 2009. In July 2014, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks, who traded him to the Boston Celtics in December 2014. The Celtics then traded him to Denver on January 13, 2015.

High school career

Nelson attended Chester High School in Chester, Pennsylvania and was a letterman in basketball. In 2000, he helped lead his team to the PIAA AAAA State championship.

College career

Nelson began his play at Saint Joseph's University in the 2000–01 season. He had a breakout freshman season in which he was named unanimous National Freshman of the Year. During his junior season in 2002–03, he averaged 19.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 4.7 assists per game. He declared for the 2003 NBA draft, but later decided to remain for his senior season.

Nelson led the Saint Joseph's Hawks to a 27–0 regular season record in 2003–04. The Hawks' first loss came in the Atlantic 10 Tournament to Xavier. Nelson and junior guard Delonte West formed what was largely considered the nation's best backcourt, helping the Hawks earn a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Elite Eight and were within seconds of the Final Four before Oklahoma State Cowboys' John Lucas III hit a three-pointer with only a few seconds remaining (after the make, Nelson dribbled up the court and had a chance to tie the game, but his 15-foot shot fell short). Saint Joseph's finished with a 30–2 record, the best in the university's history. Nelson averaged 20.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He received the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award his final year, recognizing him as the nation's top senior men's basketball player. He left the Hawks as the best player in the program's history, as its all-time leader in scoring (2094 points), assists (714), and steals (256). Nelson's number was retired by the university on April 23, 2004.

Because of his extraordinary accomplishments as a senior, Nelson won the 2004 Wooden Award, the 2004 Naismith Award, the 2004 Bob Cousy Award, the Rupp Trophy, the Oscar Robertson Trophy and many more accolades, including being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Nelson was the first Atlantic 10 athlete to be on the cover of the magazine since Mark Macon in 1988.

Professional career

Orlando Magic (2004–2014)

Nelson with Magic teammate Dwight Howard.

Nelson was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, and was subsequently traded to the Orlando Magic for a 2005 first-round draft pick. Though many speculated he would be a top 10 pick, he fell to number 20, and the Magic were able to acquire both Nelson and Dwight Howard in the same draft.

As a rookie, Nelson served as the primary backup to the Magic's All-Star point guard Steve Francis. Due to Nelson's impressive play, which earned him NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and Rookie of the Year consideration,^[1] the Magic moved Francis to shooting guard to make room for Nelson to start at point guard. They still occasionally started Francis at point guard, and had Nelson come off the bench.^[2]

On February 22, 2006, the Magic dealt Steve Francis to the New York Knicks, paving the way for Nelson to become the long-term starting point guard.^[3] Nelson's play improved with the mid-season trade of Francis, finishing the season with averages of 14.6 points and 5 assists per game on 48.3% field goal shooting.

The following year, Nelson helped lead the Magic back into the postseason for the first time since 2003. He averaged 14.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during the NBA playoffs, however the Magic were ultimately swept by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round.

During the 2008 All-Star weekend Slam Dunk Contest, Nelson assisted teammate Dwight Howard on several of his dunks, including the famous Superman dunk. That year, the Magic once again made the playoffs, defeating the Toronto Raptors in the first round before falling to the Pistons in the second round. He averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game through the playoffs.

Nelson taking a shot over Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards.

Nelson set career highs in points, steals, and shooting percentages during the 2008–09 NBA season. He, along with teammates Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, were selected to play in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.^[4] However, a torn labrum in Nelson's right shoulder, a potential season-ending injury, forced him to miss the game. Nelson was averaging 16.7 points per game and 5.4 assists at the time.^[5] The Magic made just their second-ever NBA Finals appearance that year, eventually falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

Nelson and the Magic again surged into the playoffs the following season, sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks before falling to the Boston Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Nelson averaged 19 points and 4.8 assists per game, and started all 14 of the Magic's playoff games.

On March 18, 2011, Nelson made a game winning buzzer beater against the Denver Nuggets to secure an 85-82 victory for Orlando.^[6][7] However, on April 10, 2011, Nelson's last-second three-pointer was ruled "no basket", and the Magic lost to the Chicago Bulls 102–99.^[8]

Nelson getting ready to take a shot against Richard Jefferson of the San Antonio Spurs.

On July 16, 2012, Nelson re-signed with the Magic on a three-year deal.^[9]

On February 23, 2014, Nelson scored his 8020th point, passing Shaquille O'Neal for fourth on the Magic's all-time scoring list.^[10]

On June 30, 2014, he was waived by the Magic after 10 seasons with the team.^[11][12]

Dallas Mavericks (2014)

On July 24, 2014, Nelson signed a two-year, $5.6 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.^[13][14] He appeared in 23 games for the Mavericks and averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 assists per game.

Boston Celtics (2014–2015)

On December 18, 2014, Nelson was traded, along with Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright, a 2015 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick and a $12.9 million trade exception, to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell.^[15] In six games for Boston, Nelson averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 assists per game. In his second game with Boston, Nelson returned to Orlando for the first time since leaving for Dallas as a free agent.

Denver Nuggets (2015–present)

On January 13, 2015, Nelson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Nate Robinson.^[16] On June 26, 2015, Nelson opted out of the remaining year of his contract with the Nuggets to become a free agent.^[17]

On August 7, 2015, Nelson re-signed with the Nuggets.^[18]

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life

On August 30, 2007, Nelson's father, Floyd "Pete" Nelson, was reported missing after disappearing at his Chester tugboat repair shop located along the docks of the Delaware River at Front Street and Highland Avenue. Authorities said no one saw his father fall into the water. Nelson arrived at the search scene the next morning. On September 2, 2007, Floyd Nelson's body was found floating in the Delaware River. His death was ruled accidental.^[19]

He has a tattoo on his back that says All Eyes On Me, and another one that says Accomplish Everything Without Fear.^[20]

On July 5, 2008, he married long-time girlfriend, Imani Tillery. He has one son, Jameer Jr., who is nicknamed Deuce.^[21]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com
• Official website
• Saint Joseph's bio at the Wayback Machine (archived April 11, 2004)