FC Bayern München’s basketball team have signed US guard DeMarcus Nelson for the upcoming season. The experienced playmaker joins the German champions after three years with the French double winners and future EuroLeague participants, Asvel Villeurbanne. The 33-year-old brings with him the experience of more than 100 appearances in the EuroLeague and EuroCup, including a season in the first division under the current Bayern coach Dejan Radonjic at Red Star Belgrade. In 2008, the 1.93m tall player made 13 appearances in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors.
“I am very much looking forward to this new challenge and did not have to think twice about accepting it,” says Nelson, who completed his medical in Munich on Friday, had his first training season in the evening and will embark on the ‘BayWa Basketball Tour 2019’ to Miami and Montevideo on Tuesday (10-24th September). “I am returning to the EuroLeague with a large, exciting club in Bayern. I’m a player who gives the team whatever is needed; definitely physical defending, experience, as well as athleticism and speed. I am a team player and I know what Coach Radonjic expects. We have already spoken briefly and I am ready to get started!”
DeMarcus Nelson at his medical in Munich
Duke, Golden State and a season in Belgrade with Radonjic
“DeMarcus is a very experienced combo guard and has already played under Coach Radonjic. So, he knows the system and the European game and will give us defense and leadership on and of the court,” says FCBB Sporting Director Deniele Baiesi. “DeMarcus is also a great guy. He accepted our ofer and this new challenge with the enthusiasm of a rookie, despite being Finals MVP in France. That speaks for itself.”
DeMarcus Nelson has spent the last three years in the French ProA (108 apps) and averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 assists, in the EuroCup 2018/19 it was 7.5 points. After his fourth year at High School in Sheldon, Sacramento (30.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg) and his time at Duke University (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg) under NCAA legend Mike Krzyzewski, where he played his last year as captain, he did not make the draft. However, he soon earned his place at the Warriors in the NBA Summer League. After 13 appearances (4.1 ppg) and a spell in the D-league he played his first season in Europe ten years ago in the Italian Serie A.
This was followed by stints in France, Ukraine, two years at Red Star (2012/14 in the EuroLeague with Radonjic), two years in the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos Athens and later with Unicaja Malaga, and finally with the up-and-coming French Tony Parker club, Villeurbanne. Last season, Asvel’s starting point guard finished the LNB Pro A playofs as MVP with a high success rate from the two and three point range (65.1% and 57.7%, 7.8 ppg).
DeMarcus De’Juan Nelson
(*2nd November 1985/Oakland, California/USA)
Point Guard, Shooting Guard – 6ft3 – 200 lbs
From 2004: Vallejo High School (California), Sheldon High School (Sacramento)
2004 – 2008: Duke University (North Carolina, NCAA)
2008 – 2009: Golden State Warriors (NBA), Bakersfield Jam, Austin
Toros (D-League)
2009 – 2010: Air Avellino (ITA)
2010 – 2011: Cholet Basket (FRA), BC Donezk (UKR)
2011 – 2012: Cholet Basket
2012 – 2014: Red Star Belgrade
2014 – 2015: Panathinaikos Athens
2015 – 2016: AS Monaco, Unicaja Malaga
2016 – 2019: Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Mr. Basketball California 2004
ACC All-Freshman Team 2005 (NCAA)
ACC Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team 2008 (NCAA)
MVP EuroLeague Matchday 4 2013/2014
Serbian Cup Winner 2013, 2014
MVP Serbian Cup 2013
All-Eurocup First Team 2014
All-ABA League Team 2014
Greek Cup Winner 2015
French Allstars 2016
French Cup Winner 2019
French Champion 2019
MVP French Finals 2019