Karl Malone vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Karl Malone 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

Karl Malone

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Karl Malone 0 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Karl Malone 19 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Karl Malone 19 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Karl Malone 14 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Karl Malone 2 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA First Team Karl Malone 11 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Karl Malone 14 Don Nelson 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Karl Malone 3 Don Nelson 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Karl Malone 4 Don Nelson 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Karl Malone 25.0 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.1 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.6 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.4 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 0.8 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 36,928 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 14,968 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Karl Malone 5,248 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Karl Malone 2,085 Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Karl Malone 1,145 Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Karl Malone 1,476 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .516 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Karl Malone .274 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .742 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 31.0 (1990) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 12.0 (1988) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (2003) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.9 (2002) Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 1.5 (1994) Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Karl Malone 24.7 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.7 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.2 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.3 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 0.7 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 4,761 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 2,062 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Karl Malone 610 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Karl Malone 258 Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Karl Malone 135 Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Karl Malone 193 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .463 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Karl Malone .162 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .736 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 30.7 (1989) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 16.3 (1989) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (1999) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 2.2 (1990) Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 1.2 (1991) 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, this player has no data for the stat.