LaMelo Ball vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and LaMelo Ball 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

LaMelo Ball

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
LaMelo Ball: 2020-21 to 2023-24
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships LaMelo Ball 0 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons LaMelo Ball 4 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played LaMelo Ball 0 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games LaMelo Ball 1 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

Rookie of The Year LaMelo Ball 1 Don Nelson 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 20.0 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.2 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 7.4 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.6 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.3 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball 3,675 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball 1,147 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists LaMelo Ball 1,364 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals LaMelo Ball 286 Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball 63 Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games LaMelo Ball 184 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball .427 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball .374 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball .834 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 23.9 (2024) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.7 (2022) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 8.4 (2023) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.8 (2024) Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.4 (2022) Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 719

Total Assists LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 210

Total Steals LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games LaMelo Ball 0 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - 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.