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 British-American 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.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
James Donaldson was born in Heacham, England. His father was in the Air Force, so James was a "military brat," meaning his family moved a lot.
James, who is 7 feet 2 inches tall, was a star center at Luther Burbank High School. He then played for Washington State University from 1975 to 1979. During his four years at Washington State, he averaged 8.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He set several school records for blocked shots, including 176 career blocks. In 2006, he was honored by being added to the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and Washington State's athletic hall of fame.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, James Donaldson was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1979 NBA draft. Before playing in the NBA, he signed with a team called 3A Antonini Siena in Italy.
NBA Journey
Donaldson played three seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. Then, he moved to the San Diego (and later Los Angeles) Clippers. During the 1984–85 NBA season, he was the best in the league at field goal percentage, making 63.7% of his shots. This is still one of the top ten percentages in NBA history!
In 1985, Donaldson joined the Dallas Mavericks. He really enjoyed playing for the Mavericks, saying it felt like a dream team. He was great at getting rebounds and blocking shots. He played alongside famous players like Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman.
His best year was in 1988 when he was chosen for the NBA All-Star Team. That same season, the Mavericks made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Playing Overseas
After his time with the Mavericks, James had short periods with the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz in the early 1990s. Injuries eventually led 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 and never even tried to shoot a 3-point shot!
After the NBA, James continued his career overseas. In 1993, he played for Iraklis in Greece. He also played for teams in Spain and Italy, including Caja San Fernando, Snai Montecatini, and Breogán Lugo. He finally retired from 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 owned a physical therapy business called the Donaldson Clinic until 2018. He is also a popular motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and inspiring others.
James has also been involved in politics. In 2009 and again in 2021, he ran for mayor of Seattle. He didn't win, but he showed his commitment to his community. In 2010, he joined the College Success Foundation, helping students succeed in college.
In January 2018, James faced a serious health challenge when he survived an aortic dissection, which is a very serious heart condition.
See also
In Spanish: James Donaldson para niños
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
