Dave Cowens vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Dave Cowens that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Dave Cowens

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Dave Cowens: 1970-71 to 1982-83
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Dave Cowens 2 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Dave Cowens 11 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Dave Cowens 7 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Dave Cowens 8 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Dave Cowens 1 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Dave Cowens 3 Don Nelson 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Dave Cowens 1 Don Nelson 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Dave Cowens 3 Don Nelson 0

Rookie of The Year Dave Cowens 1 Don Nelson 0

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Dave Cowens 17.6 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Dave Cowens 13.6 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Dave Cowens 3.8 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Dave Cowens 1.1 * Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Dave Cowens 0.9 * Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Dave Cowens 13,516 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Dave Cowens 10,444 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Dave Cowens 2,910 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Dave Cowens 599 * Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Dave Cowens 488 * Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Dave Cowens 766 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Dave Cowens .460 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Dave Cowens .071 * Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Dave Cowens .783 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Dave Cowens 20.5 (1973) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Dave Cowens 16.2 (1973) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Dave Cowens 5.0 (1977) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Dave Cowens 1.3 (1975) * Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Dave Cowens 1.3 (1974) * Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Dave Cowens 18.9 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Dave Cowens 14.4 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Dave Cowens 3.7 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Dave Cowens 1.2 * Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Dave Cowens 0.9 * Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Dave Cowens 1,684 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Dave Cowens 1,285 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Dave Cowens 333 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Dave Cowens 78 * Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Dave Cowens 56 * Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Dave Cowens 89 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Dave Cowens .451 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Dave Cowens .000 * Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Dave Cowens .744 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Dave Cowens 21.9 (1973) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Dave Cowens 16.6 (1973) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Dave Cowens 4.6 (1976) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Dave Cowens 1.6 (1975) * Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Dave Cowens 1.4 (1977) * Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.