BIO: Dwayne Nelson was born in Charleston, South Carolina (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Dwayne Nelson made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 25 years of age. He scored 23 points in his first game.

In 1984, Nelson averaged 25.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as the 36ers finished in sixth place (16-7).

1986
1986
Coming off a Grand Final loss to Brisbane, Adelaide rebounded with what is considered the greatest season in NBL history. Although the team made only one major change, adding naturalised import Nelson to replace the outgoing Karl Luke, the 36ers dominated the season to finish in first place (24-2). Mark Davis would lead the league in rebounding and be selected to the All-NBL First Team. Alongside Davis, Al Green (19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals), Darryl Pearce (19.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals), Sixers skipper Bill Jones (19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks), and Mike McKay (13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) would round out the starting lineup. Nelson would appear in all 30 games and averaged 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.3 assists for the season.

This 36ers team was coined ‘The Invincibles’ in the South Australian media due to finishing with the best regular season record of all time. The team’s 24-2 win-loss record — a 92.3 percent success rate — has never been matched since. The two losses both also were on last-gasp buzzer beaters, keeping Cole’s team just a few seconds short of the perfect 26-0 season. Of their 27 total victories that year, 17 were by at least 20 points, and the 36ers’ only two losses to West Sydney (87-89) and Coburg (114-116) were the results of last second buzzer-beaters, effectively meaning they were about six seconds short of the perfect 26-0 regular season. They averaged 117.3 points a game in their winning spree, conceding 96.0, a winning buffer of 21.3 points. And in claiming the regular season championship, they were five wins clear of the 19-7 second-placed Canberra Cannons.

On top of all that, Adelaide was unbeatable at home, winning all 13 games at a sold-out Apollo Stadium. This was extended to 14-0 after Darryl Pearce (28 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists) and Al Green (27 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists) led the 36ers over the Illawarra Hawks (116-92) in the semi-final. If you include the 36ers home games from 1985, this extended their home streak to 20-0.Adelaide would then meet Brisbane in a grand final re-match, with the NBL deciding to extend the championship series from single elimination to a three-game series from here onwards.

Adelaide won the opening match (119-122), with their big man doing most of the work, Davis (38 points, 23 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) recording his second-highest scoring game of the season. Bill Jones (30 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks) and Darryl Pearce (13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) were also key factors in the win. Nelson also added 2 points and 3 rebounds.

As the series moved to Brisbane, The 36ers seemingly got ahead of themselves and when they travelled to Brisbane, Cal Bruton (38 points on 15 of 24 shooting) and Larry Sengstock (19 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists) dished out a 21-point thrashing (84-104). Nelson contributed 6 points and 4 rebounds in Adelaide’s largest loss of the season.

The 36ers would return to Apollo Stadium to correct their game two shortcomings and defeat Brisbane (113-91) to bring the second NBL Championship in five years to South Australia. Bullet’s guard Cal Bruton (31 points and 4 rebounds) would finish as the game’s high scorer, with Pearce (27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) top scoring for the 36ers. Al Green (22 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) managed to fill most columns of the box score, and Nelson added 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in the championship win.

1987
The Adelaide 36ers entered the 1987 season with a strong core, retaining key players such as Dwayne Nelson (12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 0.8 steals), Mark Davis (26.1 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals), Al Green (23.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), Bill Jones (14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks), and Mike McKay (14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists). Under new head coach Gary Fox, the 36ers looked to defend their 1986 championship and continue their dominance.

Adelaide started the season on a high note with a strong win over Westside Melbourne (131-105), but the team faced an early season challenge with a three-game losing streak, which began with a narrow loss to North Melbourne (103-106) and ended with a defeat to Perth (104-106). However, the 36ers quickly rebounded and embarked on a five-game winning streak, beginning with a victory over Brisbane (127-111) and finishing with a win against Eastside (98-87).

Nelson played an important role during the season, particularly on the defensive end and as a consistent scorer in the paint. The 36ers then went on to record an eight-game winning streak, starting with a tight victory over Canberra (118-115) and concluding with a win over Sydney (108-103), before being stopped by Hobart (108-112).

The 36ers recorded their biggest win of the season against West Sydney (147-99) on July 17, but also suffered a tough loss to Illawarra (108-90) on June 25. Nelson’s contributions were key in Adelaide’s ability to secure the top spot in the league. The team concluded the regular season with a convincing victory over Geelong (128-97), finishing with a league-best 21-5 record.

Nelson’s performance complemented the 36ers’ frontcourt, where he worked alongside Mark Davis and Bill Jones. His ability to score efficiently and rebound effectively made him a key part of the team’s success.

In the playoffs, Adelaide earned a first-round bye and faced Perth in the semi-finals. In Game 1, Nelson supported his teammates in a close 99-98 win. However, despite his efforts, the 36ers were narrowly defeated in Game 2 (99-101), setting up a decisive Game 3. In the final game of the series, Nelson contributed, but Adelaide was ultimately defeated (103-93), losing the series 2-1.

1988
Darryl Pearce and Peter Ali would be named co-captains of the squad in 1988, the same year Adelaide born centre and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) attendee Mark Bradtke would make his NBL debut. Bradtke was signed by Ken Cole in 1986 when he was 16 years old and 203 cm tall but due to living in Brisbane at the time, he committed to the AIS for two years before joining Adelaide.

The Sixers had a great start to the season, kicking it off with a 4-1 start that included a 31-point win over Illawarra and had them picked as favourites to win the title in the early stages of the year. During the first month of the season, the 36ers were led by Darryl Peace, who exploded for 48 points, including 11 of 14 three-point attempts, against the Ken Cole coached Falcons in Newcastle in round two, a stat line that remains the highest scoring game in 36ers history.

Bradtke (7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) came off the bench as a backup to Bill Jones (15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks) and Mark Davis (25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals). Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Al Green (20 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals) would provide the offence from the perimeter, and Adelaide (19-5) finished the regular season in first place during for the third year in a row (second under coach Gary Fox). Adelaide would then lose to Canberra (0-2), falling short in the semifinals for the second year in a row.

Nelson would appear in 26 games, and 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.

1989
1989 would be the last year with Gary Fox as coach after the team dropped to sixth on the regular season ladder with a 15–9 record. Due to the emergence of Mark Bradtke, import centre Bill Jones left the team to join former coach Ken Cole in Newcastle. Adelaide replaced him with import forward Orlando Phillips, the 1983 NCAA West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and a former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick.

Also, the team captaincy would be handed over fully to Darryl Pearce as co-captain Peter Ali chose to step down from the role. As the season began, Mark Davis (25.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding while also being selected in the All-NBL First Team for a fourth time. Phillips (20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) came as advertised, providing the additional scoring needed, and Bradtke (15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) made the most of his new role as starting center, winning the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Nelson would contribute 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.2 assists as the 36ers snuck into the playoffs as the sixth seed. Adelaide (15-9) would face Perth (16-8) in the Elimination Finals, where Cal Bruton (35 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists) finished as the game’s high scorer, but it wouldn’t be enough to get past the 36ers who had five players score over 18 points or more. Mark Davis (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals), Darryl Pearce (25 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists), Orlando Phillips (23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Mike McKay (20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and second year big man Mark Bradtke (18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) combining for 91 points in the game one win (122-124).

With the series returning to Perth for game two, Perth returned to its regular season form, shooting 51% from the field (42/82), and defeating Adelaide by 20 points (114-94). Pinder (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Bruton (22 points and 5 assists) top scoring for the Wildcats, while Mark Davis (22 points and 20 rebounds) racked up a 20/20 game in the 36ers losing effort.

With Bruton (29 points and 7 rebounds) again leading the team in scoring, Perth came away with the win in game three (112-108) and ended 36ers playoff hopes.

NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS
1990
The Giants lost a number of key players after winning the 1989 Grand Final, which resulted in head coach Bruce Palmer furiously recruiting new talent instead of devising ways to defend their championship.

Former Indiana Hoosier Joe Hillman was signed as a replacement for Dillon, naturalised import Dwayne Nelson who had spent the past five seasons with Adelaide filled the role of Exum and young Australian Institute of Sport product, 19-year-old Pat Reidy was added to fill out the team’s main roster.

Despite the roster overhaul, the Giants blazed a trail through NBL opponents, winning their first eight games in a row. Scott Fisher (31.4 points, 12 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals) led the team in points and rebounds, finished second on the team in assists and steals and shot 55% from the field to deliver one of the greatest statistical seasons in NBL history, while Nelson also contributed 7.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game.

The team finished the season in first place on the ladder, winning 20 from 26 games. The Giants and the Eastside Melbourne Spectres (who finished first and second) would earn a bye and face the winners of the elimination finals which saw Perth defeat Melbourne in two games and Brisbane, rebound from a game one loss to eliminate Sydney in three games. In surprising fashion, fifth placed Perth would eliminate North Melbourne in the semifinals (2-1) and third placed Brisbane defeated Eastside in two games. Perth would go on to become eventual champions, defeating Brisbane in three games to capturing their first NBL title.

Dwayne Nelson played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Adelaide 36ers and the North Melbourne Giants. He averaged 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 165 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (832 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.