Kevin McHale vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Kevin McHale 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
Kevin McHale:
1980-81 to 1992-93
Don Nelson:
1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

Kevin McHale3
Don Nelson5
Kevin McHale13
Don Nelson14
Kevin McHale13
Don Nelson11
Kevin McHale7
Don Nelson0

Honors and Awards

Kevin McHale1
Don Nelson0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Kevin McHale1
Don Nelson0
Kevin McHale3
Don Nelson0
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Kevin McHale6
Don Nelson0
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Kevin McHale 17.9
Don Nelson 10.3

Kevin McHale 7.3
Don Nelson 4.9

Kevin McHale 1.7
Don Nelson 1.4

Kevin McHale 0.4
Don Nelson 0.3

*
Kevin McHale 1.7
Don Nelson 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Kevin McHale 17,335
Don Nelson 10,898

Kevin McHale 7,122
Don Nelson 5,192

Kevin McHale 1,670
Don Nelson 1,526

Kevin McHale 344
Don Nelson 65

*
Kevin McHale 1,690
Don Nelson 35

*
Kevin McHale 971
Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kevin McHale .554
Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage
Kevin McHale .261
Don Nelson -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Kevin McHale .798
Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Kevin McHale 26.1
(1987)
Don Nelson 15.4
(1970)

Kevin McHale 9.9
(1987)
Don Nelson 7.3
(1970)

Kevin McHale 2.7
(1988)
Don Nelson 2.3
(1972)

Kevin McHale 0.5
(1987)
Don Nelson 0.4
(1975)

*
Kevin McHale 2.3
(1983)
Don Nelson 0.2
(1975)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Kevin McHale 18.8
Don Nelson 10.5

Kevin McHale 7.4
Don Nelson 4.8

Kevin McHale 1.6
Don Nelson 1.4

Kevin McHale 0.4
Don Nelson 0.3

*
Kevin McHale 1.7
Don Nelson 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Kevin McHale 3,182
Don Nelson 1,577

Kevin McHale 1,253
Don Nelson 719

Kevin McHale 274
Don Nelson 210

Kevin McHale 65
Don Nelson 13

*
Kevin McHale 281
Don Nelson 7

*
Kevin McHale 169
Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kevin McHale .561
Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage
Kevin McHale .381
Don Nelson -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Kevin McHale .788
Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Kevin McHale 25.4
(1988)
Don Nelson 15.4
(1975)

Kevin McHale 9.9
(1985)
Don Nelson 7.5
(1968)

Kevin McHale 3.0
(1989)
Don Nelson 2.4
(1975)

Kevin McHale 0.6
(1985)
Don Nelson 0.4
(1974)

*
Kevin McHale 2.4
(1986)
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.