Nikola Jokic vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Nikola Jokic 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

Nikola Jokic

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Nikola Jokic: 2015-16 to 2023-24
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Nikola Jokic 1 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Nikola Jokic 9 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Nikola Jokic 6 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Nikola Jokic 6 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Nikola Jokic 2 Don Nelson 0

Finals MVP Nikola Jokic 1 Don Nelson 0 *

All-NBA First Team Nikola Jokic 3 Don Nelson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Nikola Jokic 5 Don Nelson 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 20.9 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 10.7 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 6.9 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.2 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.7 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Nikola Jokic 14,139 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Nikola Jokic 7,249 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Nikola Jokic 4,667 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Nikola Jokic 822 Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Nikola Jokic 491 Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Nikola Jokic 675 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nikola Jokic .557 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Nikola Jokic .350 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Nikola Jokic .827 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 27.1 (2022) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 13.8 (2022) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 9.8 (2023) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.5 (2022) Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.9 (2024) Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 27.6 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 12.2 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 7.4 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.1 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.9 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Nikola Jokic 1,985 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Nikola Jokic 881 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Nikola Jokic 536 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Nikola Jokic 77 Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Nikola Jokic 63 Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Nikola Jokic 72 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nikola Jokic .532 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Nikola Jokic .411 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Nikola Jokic .832 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 31.0 (2022) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 15.3 (2024) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 10.0 (2024) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.6 (2022) Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.0 (2023) 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.