DeMarcus Nelson is a former American-Serbian professional basketball player who played in various international leagues and had a brief stint in the National Basketball Association.
Player Profile and Personal Life
DeMarcus De’Juan Nelson was born on November 2, 1985, in Oakland, California, United States of America. He stands 193 cm tall and his playing weight was listed at 88 kg. Nelson played primarily as a point guard and shooting guard.
In 2014, Nelson obtained Serbian citizenship.
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Height / weight | 1.93 m / 88 kg |
| Born | 2 Nov 1985 |
| Nationality |
Serbia
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Team History | |
| Bayern Munich | 2019 - 2020 |
| Limoges CSP | 2020 |
| ASVEL Basket | 2016 - 2019 |
| Unicaja | 2015 - 2016 |
| Panathinaikos | 2014 - 2015 |
| Monaco | 2015 |
| Crvena zvezda | 2012 - 2014 |
| Cholet Basket | 2011 - 2012 |
| Cholet Basket | 2010 - 2011 |
| Donetsk | 2011 |
| Air Avellino | 2009 - 2010 |
Golden State
|
2008 - 2009 |
| Zagreb | 2009 |
| Austin Toros | 2009 |
| Bakersfield Jam | 2008 |
High School and College Career
Nelson attended Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California for his senior year. He then played college basketball for Duke University from 2004 to 2008.
In 2004, he was named California Mr. Basketball as well as a McDonald’s All-American. In 2008, he was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Professional Career
Demarcus Nelson’s professional basketball career began in 2008 when he went undrafted in the NBA but was signed by the Golden State Warriors.
Nelson, a point guard who wore number 20, had a brief stint with the Warriors before embarking on a journey that would take him across multiple leagues and countries. His early career included time with the Bakersfield Jam in the then-NBA D-League and short spells with teams in Croatia and Texas.
From 2009 to 2012, Nelson played for several European clubs, including Air Avellino in Italy and Cholet Basket in France, with a brief stop at Donetsk in Ukraine. His career gained significant momentum when he joined Crvena zvezda in Serbia from 2012 to 2014. During this period, Nelson’s performances earned him recognition, including two Serbian Cup victories and the Serbian Cup MVP award in 2013.
Nelson’s success continued as he moved to other prominent European teams. He played for Panathinaikos in Greece, winning the Greek Cup in 2015, and later joined ASVEL Basket in France, where he achieved some of his most notable accolades.
With ASVEL, Nelson won the French League championship and was named French League Finals MVP in 2019. His career also included stints with Unicaja in Spain and Bayern Munich in Germany, showcasing his versatility and adaptability across different European leagues.
Throughout his career, Nelson earned various individual honors, including selection to the All-EuroCup First Team in 2014 and the French League All-Star team in 2016.
Career Highlights
- 2019 - French League champion
- 2019 - French League Finals MVP
- 2019 - French Federation Cup winner
- 2016 - French League All-Star
- 2015 - Greek Cup winner
- 2014 - All-EuroCup First Team
- 2014 - All-ABA League Team
- 2014 - Serbian Cup winner
- 2013 - Serbian Cup winner
- 2013 - Serbian Cup MVP
- 2008 - Third-team All-American – NABC
- 2008 - ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2008 - First-team All-ACC
- 2008 - ACC All-Defensive team
- 2005 - ACC All-Freshman Team
- 2004 - Second-team Parade All-American
- 2004 - McDonald’s All-American
- 2004 - California Mr. Basketball
