Michael Cooper vs. Don Nelson Comparison
Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Michael Cooper 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
|
NBA Timeline: |
1946-47
2023-24
  |
Michael Cooper:
1978-79 to 1989-90
|
  |
Don Nelson:
1962-63 to 1975-76
|
|
Honors and Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
| Michael Cooper | 1 |
|
 * |
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
* | |
|
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.
Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83. |
NBA Regular Season Stats |
Stats Per Game |
| Michael Cooper |
8.9 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10.3 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
3.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
4.9 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
4.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1.4 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
1.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.3 | |   *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
0.6 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.1 | | *
|
|
Totals Stats |
| Michael Cooper |
7,729 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10,898 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
2,769 | | |
| Don Nelson |
5,192 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
3,666 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,526 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
1,033 | | |
| Don Nelson |
65 | | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
523 | | |
| Don Nelson |
35 | | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
873 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,053 | | |
|
Percentages |
| Michael Cooper |
.469 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.480 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
.340 | | 
* |
| Don Nelson |
- | | n/a **
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
.833 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.765 | | |
|
Best Season (no game minimum) |
| Michael Cooper |
11.9 | | (1982) | |
| Don Nelson |
15.4 | | (1970) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
4.1 | | (1981) | |
| Don Nelson |
7.3 | | (1970) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
5.9 | | (1984) | |
| Don Nelson |
2.3 | | (1972) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
1.6 | | (1981) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.4 | | (1975) | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
1.0 | | (1981) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.2 | | (1975) | *
|
|
NBA Playoffs Stats |
Stats Per Game |
| Michael Cooper |
9.4 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10.5 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
3.4 | | |
| Don Nelson |
4.8 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
4.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1.4 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
1.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.3 | | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
0.6 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.1 | | *
|
|
Totals Stats |
| Michael Cooper |
1,581 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,577 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
574 | | |
| Don Nelson |
719 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
703 | | |
| Don Nelson |
210 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
203 | | |
| Don Nelson |
13 | | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
96 | | |
| Don Nelson |
7 | | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
168 | | |
| Don Nelson |
150 | | |
|
Percentages |
| Michael Cooper |
.468 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.498 | | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
.392 | |
* |
| Don Nelson |
- | | n/a **
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
.825 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.817 | | |
|
Best Playoffs (no game minimum) |
| Michael Cooper |
13.0 | | (1987) | |
| Don Nelson |
15.4 | | (1975) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
4.4 | | (1982) | |
| Don Nelson |
7.5 | | (1968) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
5.7 | | (1984) | |
| Don Nelson |
2.4 | | (1975) | |
|
| Michael Cooper |
2.0 | | (1981) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.4 | | (1974) | *
|
|
| Michael Cooper |
1.0 | | (1984) | |
| 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. |
