Early years in SBL and college (2014–2017) Nelson debuted in the
State Basketball League (SBL) in
2014 for the
Perth Redbacks. In 30 games, he averaged 7.9 points, 2.63 rebounds and 1.07 assists per game. For the 2014–15 U.S. college season, Nelson played for
Community College of Rhode Island and earned Region 21
NJCAA all-conference honours. In the final game of the season, he scored a season-high 22 points. In 24 games, he averaged 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. In May 2015, Nelson re-joined the Perth Redbacks. In 12 games to finish the
2015 SBL season, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.33 assists per game. In 20 games, he averaged 12.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.45 assists per game. In May 2017, Nelson re-joined the Perth Redbacks. He helped the Redbacks reach the SBL Grand Final, Nelson recorded 17 points, four assists and three rebounds in the grand final with 14 of those points coming in the second half. The Gunners finished with 20 losses and zero wins, as Nelson averaged 16.1 points and 3.2 assists in his 15 games. In 15 games, he averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Perth Redbacks and Europe (2019–2021) In March 2019, Nelson returned to the Perth Redbacks for the
2019 SBL season. He averaged a league-leading 27.96 points per game and earned
All-SBL First Team honours. In 24 games, he also averaged 6.33 rebounds and 4.62 assists. On 29 November 2019, Nelson signed with
Jämtland Basket of the
Swedish Basketball League for the rest of the
2019–20 season. In 14 games, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Nelson was set to play for the
Bendigo Braves in the 2020
NBL1 South season, but due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the NBL1 season was cancelled. He subsequently returned to Perth and played for the Redbacks in the
West Coast Classic. He appeared in all 13 games, averaging 21.92 points, 6.92 rebounds and 4.62 assists per game. On 3 February 2021, Nelson signed with
U.M.F. Grindavík of the Icelandic top-tier
Úrvalsdeild karla for the rest of the
2020–21 season. He broke his finger in April and subsequently returned to Perth. In eight games, he averaged 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In June 2021, Nelson joined the Redbacks for the rest of the
2021 NBL1 West season. In 14 games, he averaged 20.07 points, 6.42 rebounds and 4.92 assists per game. He made his debut for the Taipans the next day, recording two points and two rebounds in five minutes off the bench in an 84–78 loss to the
Perth Wildcats. He was released from the Taipans roster on 17 March 2022. In 10 games during the
2021–22 NBL season, he averaged 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
Rockingham Flames (2022–2023) Nelson joined the
Rockingham Flames for the
2022 NBL1 West season. On 28 May, he scored 39 points in an 81–65 win over the
Willetton Tigers. On 24 June, he recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a 102–93 loss to the
Perry Lakes Hawks. On 1 July, he scored 39 points in a 114–110 overtime win over the
Perth Redbacks. He helped the Flames finish the regular season in second place with an 18–4 record and helped guide them to the NBL1 West Grand Final, where they defeated the
Geraldton Buccaneers 91–79 to win the
championship behind Nelson's 19 points. For the season, he earned
All-NBL1 West First Team honours. In 20 games, he averaged 21.85 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.25 steals per game. At the
NBL1 National Finals, the team was crowned
national champions with an 85–74 win over the
Frankston Blues in the championship game. He was named to the NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five. In November 2022, Nelson re-signed with the Flames for the
2023 NBL1 West season. He helped the Flames win the minor premiership but they went on to lose to the
Joondalup Wolves in the preliminary final. In 23 games, he averaged 15.78 points, 4.22 rebounds, 6.17 assists and 1.09 steals per game. The Flames went on to reach the grand final of the
NBL1 National Finals, where they lost 90–85 to the
Knox Raiders. Nelson was named to the NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five for the second straight year. A week later, he played for the NBL1 West Select Team against the Perth Wildcats in two NBL pre-season games.
Willetton Tigers (2024) After initially re-signing with the Flames, Nelson joined the
Willetton Tigers in April 2024 for the
2024 NBL1 West season. In the Tigers' semi-final on 1 August, Nelson scored 48 points with eight 3-pointers in a 108–103 win over the Flames. In the preliminary final two days later, he had 26 points and nine assists in a 98–89 win over the
Geraldton Buccaneers. In the grand final, he scored 19 points in a 91–89 loss to the
Mandurah Magic. In 23 games, he averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
PSA Sant'Antimo (2024) In July 2024, Nelson signed with PSA Sant'Antimo of the Italian
Serie B Basket for the 2024–25 season. He left the team in December 2024 after averaging 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 16 games.
Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2025) In February 2025, Nelson signed with the
Kalamunda Eastern Suns for the
2025 NBL1 West season. He formed a backcourt duo with
Terrico White. On 13 June, Nelson scored 50 points with eight 3-pointers in a 106–91 win over the
Perth Redbacks. In 19 games, he averaged 24.58 points, 6.79 rebounds, 5.37 assists and 2.21 steals per game.
Return to Perth Redbacks (2026–) In November 2025, Nelson signed with the
Perth Redbacks for the
2026 NBL1 West season. ==National team career==