Tim Duncan vs. Don Nelson Comparison

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

Player Comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

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
Tim Duncan:
1997-98 to 2015-16
Don Nelson:
1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

Tim Duncan5
Don Nelson5
Tim Duncan19
Don Nelson14
Tim Duncan18
Don Nelson11
Tim Duncan15
Don Nelson0

Honors and Awards

Tim Duncan2
Don Nelson0
Tim Duncan3
Don Nelson0
*
Tim Duncan10
Don Nelson0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Tim Duncan15
Don Nelson0
Tim Duncan8
Don Nelson0
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Tim Duncan15
Don Nelson0
Tim Duncan1
Don Nelson0
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Tim Duncan 19.0
Don Nelson 10.3

Tim Duncan 10.8
Don Nelson 4.9

Tim Duncan 3.0
Don Nelson 1.4

Tim Duncan 0.7
Don Nelson 0.3

*
Tim Duncan 2.2
Don Nelson 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Tim Duncan 26,496
Don Nelson 10,898

Tim Duncan 15,091
Don Nelson 5,192

Tim Duncan 4,225
Don Nelson 1,526

Tim Duncan 1,025
Don Nelson 65

*
Tim Duncan 3,020
Don Nelson 35

*
Tim Duncan 1,392
Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Tim Duncan .506
Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage
Tim Duncan .179
Don Nelson -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Tim Duncan .696
Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Tim Duncan 25.5
(2002)
Don Nelson 15.4
(1970)

Tim Duncan 12.9
(2003)
Don Nelson 7.3
(1970)

Tim Duncan 3.9
(2003)
Don Nelson 2.3
(1972)

Tim Duncan 0.9
(1999)
Don Nelson 0.4
(1975)

*
Tim Duncan 2.9
(2003)
Don Nelson 0.2
(1975)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Tim Duncan 20.6
Don Nelson 10.5

Tim Duncan 11.4
Don Nelson 4.8

Tim Duncan 3.0
Don Nelson 1.4

Tim Duncan 0.7
Don Nelson 0.3

*
Tim Duncan 2.3
Don Nelson 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Tim Duncan 5,172
Don Nelson 1,577

Tim Duncan 2,859
Don Nelson 719

Tim Duncan 764
Don Nelson 210

Tim Duncan 168
Don Nelson 13

*
Tim Duncan 568
Don Nelson 7

*
Tim Duncan 251
Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Tim Duncan .501
Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage
Tim Duncan .143
Don Nelson -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Tim Duncan .689
Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Tim Duncan 27.6
(2002)
Don Nelson 15.4
(1975)

Tim Duncan 15.4
(2003)
Don Nelson 7.5
(1968)

Tim Duncan 5.3
(2003)
Don Nelson 2.4
(1975)

Tim Duncan 1.3
(2015)
Don Nelson 0.4
(1974)

*
Tim Duncan 4.3
(2002)
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.