Don Nelson vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Hakeem Olajuwon and Don Nelson 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

Don Nelson

vs.

Hakeem Olajuwon

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76
Hakeem Olajuwon: 1984-85 to 2001-02

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Don Nelson 5 Hakeem Olajuwon 2

NBA Seasons Don Nelson 14 Hakeem Olajuwon 18

Playoffs Played Don Nelson 11 Hakeem Olajuwon 15

All-Star Games Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 1

Finals MVP Don Nelson 0 * Hakeem Olajuwon 2

All-NBA First Team Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 6

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 12

All-Defensive 1st Team Don Nelson 0 * Hakeem Olajuwon 5

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 9

Defensive Player of The Year Don Nelson 0 * Hakeem Olajuwon 2

Rebounds Leader Don Nelson 0 Hakeem Olajuwon 2

Blocks Leader Don Nelson 0 * Hakeem Olajuwon 3

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.3 Hakeem Olajuwon 21.8

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.9 Hakeem Olajuwon 11.1

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Hakeem Olajuwon 2.5

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Hakeem Olajuwon 1.7

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Hakeem Olajuwon 3.1

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 10,898 Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 5,192 Hakeem Olajuwon 13,748

Total Assists Don Nelson 1,526 Hakeem Olajuwon 3,058

Total Steals Don Nelson 65 * Hakeem Olajuwon 2,162

Total Blocks Don Nelson 35 * Hakeem Olajuwon 3,830

Total Games Don Nelson 1,053 Hakeem Olajuwon 1,238

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .480 Hakeem Olajuwon .512

3-Point Percentage Don Nelson - n/a ** Hakeem Olajuwon .202

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .765 Hakeem Olajuwon .712

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1970) Hakeem Olajuwon 27.8 (1995)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.3 (1970) Hakeem Olajuwon 14.0 (1990)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.3 (1972) Hakeem Olajuwon 3.6 (1994)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) * Hakeem Olajuwon 2.6 (1989)

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * Hakeem Olajuwon 4.6 (1990)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.5 Hakeem Olajuwon 25.9

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.8 Hakeem Olajuwon 11.2

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Hakeem Olajuwon 3.2

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Hakeem Olajuwon 1.7

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Hakeem Olajuwon 3.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 1,577 Hakeem Olajuwon 3,755

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 719 Hakeem Olajuwon 1,621

Total Assists Don Nelson 210 Hakeem Olajuwon 458

Total Steals Don Nelson 13 * Hakeem Olajuwon 245

Total Blocks Don Nelson 7 * Hakeem Olajuwon 472

Total Games Don Nelson 150 Hakeem Olajuwon 145

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .498 Hakeem Olajuwon .528

3-Point Percentage Don Nelson - n/a ** Hakeem Olajuwon .222

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .817 Hakeem Olajuwon .719

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1975) Hakeem Olajuwon 37.5 (1988)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.5 (1968) Hakeem Olajuwon 16.8 (1988)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.4 (1975) Hakeem Olajuwon 4.8 (1993)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) * Hakeem Olajuwon 2.5 (1990)

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * Hakeem Olajuwon 5.8 (1990)

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.