UCLA’s Reeves Nelson was dismissed from the men’s basketball team on Tuesday, according to BruinReportOnline.com.
Nelson was the leading returning scorer and rebounder for the Bruins and on the preseason short-list for player of the year in the PAC-12. However after several disciplinary infractions UCLA has decided to part ways with Nelson.
The junior forward was suspended after a season-opening loss to Loyola-Marymount because of his attitude problem that has plagued him throughout his career. He missed UCLA’s loss to Middle Tennessee State, then proceeded to miss the team’s flight to the Maui Invitational. He then only played 11 minutes against Chaminade. Nelson was benched for the second half of Saturday’s game with Texas and was reportedly “laughing it up” on the sideline while his teammates lost 69-59.
“[Nelson's] behavior is totally uncharacteristic of what we want from a UCLA basketball player representing this history and tradition,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times. “It’s something that is going to be dealt with when we get together again. It’s been an ongoing problem the past two years which has gotten worse.”
Nelson averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game last season.
He was only averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game this season.
