Episode 11 of the Hoopsfix Podcast saw us sit down with English basketball legend Steve Nelson, a former England senior international and 15 year career pro.
Nelson is currently the CEO of the West of England Sports Trust, while also being heavily involved with Worthing Thunder Basketball Club – the team where he had some of his most successful years as a pro.
His son is top ’95 born prospect Luke Nelson, who has just finished a record season with UC Irvine in NCAA Division 1 as he led them to the NCAA tournament, while his daughter, Kyla, is also a junior England international and a star player with Oaklands Wolves.
We sat down with Steve last week Monday (13th April) for close to 90 minutes, hearing his insights on a wide range of topics including:
How he first started playing in West Brom with fellow basketball legend Martin Henlan
How he compares junior basketball for him growing up compared to what his kids have experienced
The Under-19 junior national league, as it was back then
Signing his first professional contract at 19 with Portsmouth
Why he feels basketball has struggled to get back to where it was at its peak
How instrumental he feels the Bosman ruling was for the state of the game in England
What his first experience competing in Europe was like and what happened after dominating the first leg
The unfortunate circumstances that saw three clubs he was playing for going bankrupt over his career
What made him decide to go to university later in his career and how he juggled it with basketball
His memories of the elusive three peat
How basketball contracts weren’t worth the paper they were written on during his playing days
The story of how Sunderland took just seven players and won the prestigious WICB tournament at Crystal Palace.
The impact having kids had on his career and life
Why he took Thames Valley Tigers to court
His experiences working for Basketball England as the National Development Manager from ’99 to ’02
What he thinks about the current situation with Bball UK and the private investment available for the sport
And much, much more!
As always, I’d love to get your feedback, come back after you’ve listened and lets get some discussion going in the comments.
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