James Donaldson (basketball) facts for kids
Donaldson during his 2009 race for Mayor of Seattle
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| Center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 1957 Heacham, England |
| Nationality | British / American |
| High school | Luther Burbank (Sacramento, California) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
| Listed weight | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Washington State (1975–1979) |
| NBA Draft | 1979 / Round: 4 / Pick: 73rd overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 1979–1999 |
| Career history | |
| 1979–1980 | 3A Antonini Siena |
| 1980–1983 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1983–1985 | San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1985–1991 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1991–1992 | New York Knicks |
| 1993 | Utah Jazz |
| 1993–1994 | Iraklis Thessaloniki |
| 1995 | Utah Jazz |
| 1996–1997 | Caja San Fernando |
| 1997 | Snai Montecatini |
| 1998 | Breogán |
| 1998–1999 | Gymnastikos S. Larissas |
| 1999 | Breogán |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,203 (8.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,492 (7.8 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,267 (1.6 bpg) |
James Lee Donaldson III (born August 16, 1957) is a former professional basketball player. He grew up in California and played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played in several basketball leagues across Europe. James was born in Heacham, England. He played high school basketball at Luther Burbank High School before going to Washington State University.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
James Donaldson was born in Heacham, England. His father was in the Air Force, which meant his family moved around.
High School and College Star
Donaldson was a very tall player, standing 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters) tall. He played as a center. He was a star player at Luther Burbank High School. Later, he played for Washington State University in the late 1970s.
During his four years at Washington State, he averaged 8.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots with 176. He also held records for blocks per game and blocks in a single season. In 2006, he was honored by being added to the Pac-12 Hall of Honor. He was also inducted into Washington State's athletic hall of fame.
Playing in the NBA
After college, James Donaldson was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1979 NBA draft. Before playing in the NBA, he signed a contract to play for a team in Italy called 3A Antonini Siena.
Starting in the NBA
Donaldson played three seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. After that, he moved to the San Diego Clippers, which later became the Los Angeles Clippers. During the 1984–85 NBA season, he was the best player in the league for field goal percentage. This means he made a very high percentage of his shots. His percentage of 0.637 is still one of the top ten in NBA history.
Donaldson played against many strong players early in his career. Some of these players included Artis Gilmore and Moses Malone.
Time with the Dallas Mavericks
In 1985, Donaldson joined the Dallas Mavericks. He had his best years playing for the Mavericks. He was great at getting rebounds and blocking shots. He helped a team that already had many star players like Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman.
In 1988, Donaldson was chosen to be an NBA All-Star. This was a big achievement for him. That same season, the Mavericks made it to the Western Conference Finals. They played against the Los Angeles Lakers but lost. Later, things became difficult for the Mavericks. Some players were traded, and others faced personal problems. Donaldson became a target for some fans and teammates, which led to the end of his time in Dallas.
Later NBA Years and Retirement
After leaving the Mavericks, Donaldson played briefly for the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz. Injuries eventually forced him to retire from the NBA in 1995.
He finished his NBA career with 8,203 points, 7,492 rebounds, and 1,267 blocks. He played in 957 NBA games. It's interesting to note that he never tried to shoot a 3-point shot in his entire NBA career. This is a record for players from the era when the 3-point shot was common.
Playing Overseas
Even after leaving the NBA, James Donaldson continued his basketball career. He played for several teams in Europe.
In 1993, he signed with Iraklis, a team in the Greek Basket League. He played 30 games for them, averaging 12.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He also played for teams in Spain, like Caja San Fernando and Breogán Lugo. He also played for teams in Italy, like Snai Montecatini. He finally retired from playing basketball for good in 1999, at the age of 41.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from basketball, James Donaldson settled in the Seattle area. He used to run a physical therapy business called the Donaldson Clinic until 2018. He also works as a motivational speaker, inspiring others with his story.
Community Involvement
Donaldson has also been involved in politics. In 2009, he ran for Mayor of Seattle. He finished in fourth place among the candidates. In 2010, he joined the College Success Foundation. This organization helps students succeed in college.
In 2018, James Donaldson survived a serious health issue called an aortic dissection. In 2021, he ran for Seattle mayor again, placing eighth in the primary election.
See also
In Spanish: James Donaldson para niños
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
