Elvin Hayes vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Elvin Hayes 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

Elvin Hayes

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Elvin Hayes: 1968-69 to 1983-84
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Elvin Hayes 1 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Elvin Hayes 16 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Elvin Hayes 10 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Elvin Hayes 12 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Elvin Hayes 3 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Elvin Hayes 6 Don Nelson 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Elvin Hayes 2 Don Nelson 0

Scoring Leader Elvin Hayes 1 Don Nelson 0

Rebounds Leader Elvin Hayes 2 Don Nelson 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 21.0 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 12.5 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.8 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.0 * Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 2.0 * Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Elvin Hayes 27,313 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Elvin Hayes 16,279 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Elvin Hayes 2,398 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Elvin Hayes 864 * Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Elvin Hayes 1,771 * Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Elvin Hayes 1,303 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elvin Hayes .452 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Elvin Hayes .147 * Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Elvin Hayes .670 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 28.7 (1971) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 18.1 (1974) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.3 (1972) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.9 (1975) * Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.0 (1974) * Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 22.9 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 13.0 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.9 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.1 * Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 2.6 * Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Elvin Hayes 2,194 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Elvin Hayes 1,244 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Elvin Hayes 185 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Elvin Hayes 97 * Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Elvin Hayes 222 * Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Elvin Hayes 96 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elvin Hayes .464 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Elvin Hayes - * Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Elvin Hayes .652 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 25.9 (1974) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 15.9 (1974) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.0 (1980) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.5 (1975) * Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 4.0 (1976) * 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.