Louie Nelson

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Louie Nelson: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you have a better example of his signature, or a story about it, the note at the foot of this page still stands.

The Bullets made Nelson the first pick of the second round in 1973, and a year later the brand-new New Orleans Jazz claimed the University of Washington guard in the expansion draft. He gave the Jazz two seasons, then finished up with the Spurs, Kings and Nets, retiring with a 9.4-point career average.

He never left the game. Nelson coaches today at Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, running the school's girls basketball program.

HOW HE CAME & WENTThe expansion Jazz took him from the Capital Bullets in the 1974 expansion draft. He averaged 11.2 and then 12.5 points, the best two seasons of his career, and the Jazz waived him in 1976.

Full name

Louis Nelson

New Orleans Jazz tenure

1974–76

Position

Guard

Born

1951, Los Angeles, California

Height

6′3″ (191 cm)

Weight

190 lb (86 kg)

College

Washington

Drafted

1973, 2nd round (No. 19), Baltimore