Kobe Bryant vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Kobe Bryant 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

Kobe Bryant

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Kobe Bryant: 1996-97 to 2015-16
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Kobe Bryant 5 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Kobe Bryant 20 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Kobe Bryant 15 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Kobe Bryant 18 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Kobe Bryant 1 Don Nelson 0

Finals MVP Kobe Bryant 2 Don Nelson 0 *

All-NBA First Team Kobe Bryant 11 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Kobe Bryant 15 Don Nelson 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Kobe Bryant 9 Don Nelson 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Kobe Bryant 12 Don Nelson 0

Scoring Leader Kobe Bryant 2 Don Nelson 0

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kobe Bryant 25.0 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Kobe Bryant 5.2 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Kobe Bryant 4.7 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Kobe Bryant 1.4 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Kobe Bryant 0.5 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kobe Bryant 33,643 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Kobe Bryant 7,047 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Kobe Bryant 6,306 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Kobe Bryant 1,944 Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Kobe Bryant 640 Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Kobe Bryant 1,346 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kobe Bryant .447 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Kobe Bryant .329 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kobe Bryant .837 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kobe Bryant 35.4 (2006) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Kobe Bryant 6.9 (2003) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Kobe Bryant 6.3 (2014) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Kobe Bryant 2.2 (2003) Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Kobe Bryant 1.0 (1999) Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kobe Bryant 25.6 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Kobe Bryant 5.1 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Kobe Bryant 4.7 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Kobe Bryant 1.4 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Kobe Bryant 0.7 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kobe Bryant 5,640 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Kobe Bryant 1,119 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Kobe Bryant 1,040 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Kobe Bryant 310 Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Kobe Bryant 144 Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Kobe Bryant 220 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kobe Bryant .448 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Kobe Bryant .331 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kobe Bryant .816 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kobe Bryant 32.8 (2007) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Kobe Bryant 7.3 (2001) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Kobe Bryant 6.1 (2001) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Kobe Bryant 1.9 (2004) Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Kobe Bryant 1.5 (2000) 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.