Yao Ming vs. Don Nelson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and Yao Ming 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

Yao Ming

vs.

Don Nelson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Yao Ming: 2002-03 to 2010-11
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Yao Ming 0 Don Nelson 5

NBA Seasons Yao Ming 8 Don Nelson 14

Playoffs Played Yao Ming 4 Don Nelson 11

All-Star Games Yao Ming 8 Don Nelson 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Yao Ming 5 Don Nelson 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.0 Don Nelson 10.3

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.2 Don Nelson 4.9

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.6 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.9 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 9,247 Don Nelson 10,898

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 4,494 Don Nelson 5,192

Total Assists Yao Ming 769 Don Nelson 1,526

Total Steals Yao Ming 189 Don Nelson 65 *

Total Blocks Yao Ming 920 Don Nelson 35 *

Total Games Yao Ming 486 Don Nelson 1,053

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .524 Don Nelson .480

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming .200 Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Don Nelson .765

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.0 (2007) Don Nelson 15.4 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.8 (2008) Don Nelson 7.3 (1970)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 2.3 (2008) Don Nelson 2.3 (1972)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.5 (2006) Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.0 (2008) Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.8 Don Nelson 10.5

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.3 Don Nelson 4.8

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.0 Don Nelson 1.4

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.3 Don Nelson 0.3 *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.5 Don Nelson 0.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 555 Don Nelson 1,577

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 261 Don Nelson 719

Total Assists Yao Ming 29 Don Nelson 210

Total Steals Yao Ming 9 Don Nelson 13 *

Total Blocks Yao Ming 42 Don Nelson 7 *

Total Games Yao Ming 28 Don Nelson 150

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .519 Don Nelson .498

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming - Don Nelson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Don Nelson .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.1 (2007) Don Nelson 15.4 (1975)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.9 (2009) Don Nelson 7.5 (1968)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.8 (2004) Don Nelson 2.4 (1975)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 (2009) Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.7 (2005) 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.