Donald Vernon Carlson (March 22, 1919 – October 16, 2004)[1] was an American professional basketball player.

A 6'0" (1.83 m) guard/forward from the University of Minnesota, Carlson played four seasons (1946–1947; 1948–1951) in the Basketball Association of America/National Basketball Association as a member of the Chicago Stags, Minneapolis Lakers, and Baltimore Bullets.

He averaged 8.0 points per game in his NBA career and won two championships with the Lakers.

After his playing days, he was a coach and athletic director at Columbia Heights High School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1920s is a stub.