James Donaldson was never one to shy away from the competition.

More than three decades after leaving WSU as the school’s all-time blocks leader, the former Cougar basketball star is back in the spotlight. On March 26, Donaldson announced his candidacy in the upcoming November election for mayor of Seattle.

His transformation from basketball star to political candidate largely began with a then-unfortunate event in 1989.

One year after making his lone NBA All-Star appearance, the 7-foot-2 center suffered a career-threatening knee injury, placing him in intensive physical therapy.

The experience left a mark on him, inspiring him to start his own physical therapy clinic the next year in Mill Creek.

Though Donaldson’s basketball career continued for 10 more seasons, he managed the clinic on the side and became a passionate small business owner.

“I loved to learn the profession and working with the professionals,” he said.

The Donaldson Clinic did well, spreading to four locations in the state, though it had to downgrade recently due to the economic climate, Donaldson said. His business talent, as well as name recognition in the area due to his playing days with the Seattle Sonics, inspired him to run for mayor.

“The tax structure needs to be adjusted because it is very expensive to do business in Seattle,” he said. “We need to find a way to help start-up businesses and put in place a graduating scale for business taxes.” Donaldson – who considers himself a Democrat, though the position is non-partisan – said he was also inspired by his close friend Brian Ebersole, former mayor of Tacoma. He said the motivation reminded him of what he received at WSU from former basketball Head Coach George Raveling.

“What he saw in me was very similar to what Raveling saw in me in high school,” he said. “He saw a young person willing to learn.” Donaldson sat on the bench for most of his first two seasons at WSU. At the beginning of his junior campaign, Raveling put Donaldson into the starting lineup, where he became a shot-blocking machine.

He stuffed a university-record 82 shots that season, averaging three per game. The figure remains a university record, as does his 176 career blocks.

“(Raveling) taught me the values of being an accountable and responsible adult,” he said. “He taught me the value of working hard.” Donaldson’s connection to Seattle was cemented during his three years playing with the Sonics, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 1979 NBA Draft.

His most productive years came during his time with the star-studded Dallas teams in the late 1980s. The highlight of Donaldson’s career was the 1987-88 season when the Mavericks reached Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Donaldson played for four teams during his 14 NBA seasons, the most of any Cougar basketball player. His scoring statistics were mostly unspectacular but consistent, though his field-goal percentage of .637 during the 1984-85 season with the Sonics is among the 10 highest in NBA history. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during his career.

He also played a few seasons overseas, including stints in Greece, Spain and Italy, calling it quits in 1999 at 42, when he returned to Seattle.

“I’ve traveled all around the world, and Seattle has the best of all worlds – the mountains, the vibrant waterfront and great people,” he said.

He said the Sonics’ exodus in 2008 was not one of the key reasons he decided to run for mayor, though he wants to ensure Seattle is at the table when the NBA makes its next change regarding its franchises.

Donaldson said he is now too busy campaigning and working at the therapy clinic to pick up a basketball, something he has rarely done during the past decade. But for Donaldson, his WSU and NBA career is something he will always cherish.

“For me, basketball was a pathway and stepping stone for other things I’ve accomplished,” he said. “It taught me some valuable lessons about working as a team and in team-oriented situations.” And for Donaldson, being elected mayor would provide him one more chance to control the ball on his home court.