Dave Nelson (basketball)

David Nelson (born c. 1957) is an American former professional basketball player. He played two years of college basketball for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks before playing eight seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) between 1981 and 1995. He won three NBL championships with the Canberra Cannons in 1983, 1984 and 1988. He became a naturalised Australian during his playing career.

College career
Nelson played two years of college basketball for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks between 1977 and 1979. He was named second-team All-RMAC as a junior in 1977–78 and first-team All-RMAC as a senior in 1978–79. He averaged 16.8 points as a junior and 19.0 points as a senior. As of 2022, his 1,058 career points ranked 28th all time in school history while his 455 career rebounds ranked 24th all time.

Professional career
In 1979, Nelson moved to Australia to play in the Australian-American Amateur Basketball League. He was named the most valuable player in the league.

In 1981, Nelson debuted in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the Canberra Cannons. He was named in the All-NBL Team in his first season after averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game. He played in the 1982 NBL All-Star Game and helped the Cannons win back-to-back NBL championships in 1983 and 1984. He was team captain in 1983 and reached 100 NBL games and 2,000 points in 1984.

After five seasons for the Cannons, Nelson joined the Brisbane Bullets for the 1986 NBL season. As a naturalised Australian, he helped the Bullets reach the grand final series, where they lost to the Adelaide 36ers. He sat out the 1987 season and then re-joined the Cannons for the 1988 NBL season. After winning a third championship in 1988, he retired from the NBL.

In 1990 and 1991, Nelson was a member of the Toowoomba Mountaineers who won back-to-back Queensland Basketball League (QBL) championships.

Nelson returned to the Cannons for a seven-game stint in the 1995 NBL season. In 173 career games in the NBL, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Player profile
Nelson was considered a dynamic power forward with a "line dry jumpshot". He was renowned for his hard-working game and his outside shots. At six foot eight, he was also listed as a center in the NBL.

Coaching career
Nelson served as head coach of the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) during the 1988 season. The team missed the playoffs with a fifth-place finish and a 13–9 record.

Personal life
In 1984, Nelson became eligible for Australian naturalisation.

Nelson's retirement from the NBL coincided with him starting a barbecue spare rib business in Canberra. He has been the owner and chef of two Mexican restaurants in Canberra, where he had a cult following for his ribs and wings.