James Donaldson
A 7'2" All-Star center who anchored the Mavs' paint in the '80s.
Career Highlights
Years Active: 1980–1995
Teams: SuperSonics, Clippers, Mavericks, Knicks, Jazz
All-Star: 1988 NBA All-Star
Career Stats: 8.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG over 957 games
Notable: Career field goal percentage of 57.7%—top 20 all-time
A Towering Presence in the Paint
Standing 7-foot-2 and 275 pounds, James Donaldson brought size and steadiness to every team he played for. Though not the quickest or most athletic big man, Donaldson was a master of positional defense and interior toughness, becoming a foundational piece during the Dallas Mavericks' late-1980s rise.
Drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 after a standout career at Washington State, Donaldson began his pro journey in Italy, where he dominated the paint in the Italian League before transitioning to the NBA in 1980. That added seasoning overseas gave him an edge early in his NBA career—he understood team structure, spacing, and professional discipline.
All-Star Status Without the Flash
Donaldson’s most productive years came with the Mavericks, where he served as the defensive anchor behind scoring talents like Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, and Derek Harper. In the 1987–88 season, Dallas made a run to the Western Conference Finals, and Donaldson was selected to the NBA All-Star Game—a rare achievement for a center who averaged fewer than 10 points per game.
But that was Donaldson’s game: high-efficiency offense, rim protection, and rebounding. He shot over 60% from the field in multiple seasons and finished with one of the highest career FG% in NBA history. He never strayed from his role, and in many ways, he represented the era’s blueprint for a non-scoring big man.
Dependable Longevity
Donaldson played in over 950 career games, and in multiple seasons he logged over 80 starts—a testament to his reliability. In his prime, he averaged 10+ rebounds per game and was routinely tasked with guarding the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Patrick Ewing.
His size alone altered opponents’ game plans. While his per-game averages may seem modest, Donaldson’s true value was felt in possession control, floor spacing (via screens), and post defense. Coaches trusted him, teammates leaned on him, and he helped elevate playoff teams with quiet excellence.
A Legacy Beyond Basketball
After retiring in 1995, Donaldson stayed rooted in Dallas, becoming a business owner, motivational speaker, and civic leader. In 2009, he ran for Mayor of Dallas, advocating for community development and small business support. He also survived a life-threatening stroke in 2008 and used the experience to advocate for stroke awareness and health education.
In a league that often prioritizes flash and headlines, James Donaldson built his legacy on humility, intelligence, and team-first play. His NBA career is a case study in how reliability, not statistics, defines value—and his post-career path shows how athletes can shape communities long after the final buzzer.