Allen Iverson vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Allen Iverson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Allen Iverson and Don Nelson both played 14 years in the NBA. Allen Iverson had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while Don Nelson had his rookie season in 1962-63. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Allen Iverson 14 8 1996-97 to 2009-10
Don Nelson 14 11 1962-63 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 1996-971962-63
Team Philadelphia 76ersChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 76 40.1 23.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 7.5 2.1 0.3 4.4 3.1 8.2 19.8 .416 2.0 6.0 .341 5.0 7.2 .702
Don Nelson 62 17.3 6.8 - - 4.5 1.2 - - - 2.2 2.1 4.7 .440 - - - 2.6 3.6 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 1997-981963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 80 39.4 22.0 1.1 2.6 3.7 6.2 2.2 0.3 3.1 2.5 8.1 17.6 .461 0.9 2.9 .298 4.9 6.7 .729
Don Nelson 80 17.6 5.2 - - 4.0 1.0 - - - 2.3 1.7 4.0 .418 - - - 1.9 2.5 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson 5 11.2 3.4 - - 2.6 0.4 - - - 2.2 1.4 2.6 .538 - - - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 3

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 1998-991964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 48 41.5 26.8 1.4 3.5 4.9 4.6 2.3 0.1 3.5 2.0 9.1 22.0 .412 1.2 4.1 .291 7.4 9.9 .751
Don Nelson 39 6.1 2.4 - - 1.9 0.6 - - - 1.0 0.9 2.2 .424 - - - 0.5 0.7 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 8 45.0 28.5 1.8 2.4 4.1 4.9 2.5 0.3 3.0 2.4 11.0 26.8 .411 1.9 6.6 .283 4.6 6.5 .712
Don Nelson 11 19.3 6.1 - - 5.4 1.7 - - - 2.8 2.2 4.8 .453 - - - 1.7 2.3 .760

Season 4

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 1999-001965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 70 40.8 28.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 4.7 2.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 10.4 24.8 .421 1.3 3.7 .341 6.3 8.9 .713
Don Nelson 75 23.5 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 2.5 3.6 8.2 .439 - - - 3.0 4.3 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 10 44.4 26.2 1.4 2.6 4.0 4.5 1.2 0.1 3.2 2.4 9.1 23.7 .384 1.2 3.9 .308 6.8 9.2 .739
Don Nelson 17 18.6 8.4 - - 5.0 0.8 - - - 2.9 2.9 6.9 .424 - - - 2.5 3.1 .808

Season 5

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2000-011966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 71 42.0 31.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 4.6 2.5 0.3 3.3 2.1 10.7 25.5 .420 1.4 4.3 .320 8.2 10.1 .814
Don Nelson 79 15.2 7.5 - - 3.7 0.8 - - - 1.8 2.9 6.4 .446 - - - 1.8 2.4 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 22 46.5 32.9 0.7 4.0 4.7 6.1 2.4 0.3 2.9 2.5 11.7 30.0 .389 2.2 6.5 .338 7.3 9.5 .774
Don Nelson 9 15.8 7.1 - - 4.7 1.0 - - - 1.3 3.0 6.6 .458 - - - 1.1 1.9 .588

Season 6

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2001-021967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 60 43.7 31.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 5.5 2.8 0.2 4.0 1.7 11.1 27.8 .398 1.3 4.5 .291 7.9 9.8 .812
Don Nelson 82 18.3 10.0 - - 5.3 1.3 - - - 2.2 3.8 7.7 .494 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 5 42.0 30.0 0.2 3.4 3.6 4.2 2.6 0.0 2.4 1.6 9.0 23.6 .381 1.8 5.4 .333 10.2 12.6 .810
Don Nelson 19 24.6 12.5 - - 7.5 1.7 - - - 2.6 4.8 9.2 .520 - - - 2.9 3.9 .743

Season 7

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2002-031968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 82 42.5 27.6 0.8 3.4 4.2 5.5 2.7 0.2 3.5 1.8 9.8 23.7 .414 1.0 3.7 .277 7.0 9.0 .774
Don Nelson 82 21.6 11.6 - - 5.6 1.1 - - - 2.4 4.6 9.4 .485 - - - 2.5 3.2 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 12 46.4 31.7 0.9 3.4 4.3 7.4 2.4 0.1 3.9 2.1 11.4 27.4 .416 1.6 4.6 .345 7.3 9.8 .737
Don Nelson 18 19.3 12.4 - - 4.6 1.2 - - - 2.8 4.8 9.3 .518 - - - 2.8 3.3 .833

Season 8

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2003-041969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 48 42.5 26.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 6.8 2.4 0.1 4.4 1.8 9.1 23.4 .387 1.2 4.1 .286 7.1 9.5 .745
Don Nelson 82 27.1 15.4 - - 7.3 1.8 - - - 2.9 5.6 11.2 .501 - - - 4.1 5.3 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2004-051970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 75 42.3 30.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 7.9 2.4 0.1 4.6 1.9 10.3 24.2 .424 1.4 4.5 .308 8.7 10.5 .835
Don Nelson 82 27.5 13.9 - - 6.9 1.9 - - - 2.8 5.0 10.7 .468 - - - 3.9 5.2 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 5 47.6 31.2 0.0 2.2 2.2 10.0 2.0 0.4 4.2 2.4 11.8 25.2 .468 2.4 5.8 .414 5.2 5.8 .897
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2005-061971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 72 43.1 33.0 0.6 2.6 3.2 7.4 1.9 0.1 3.4 1.7 11.3 25.3 .447 1.0 3.1 .323 9.4 11.5 .814
Don Nelson 82 25.4 13.8 - - 5.5 2.3 - - - 2.7 4.7 9.9 .480 - - - 4.3 5.5 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson 11 28.0 13.2 - - 5.5 1.9 - - - 2.7 4.7 9.0 .525 - - - 3.7 4.4 .854

Season 11

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2006-071972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 65 42.5 26.3 0.4 2.6 3.0 7.2 1.9 0.2 4.1 1.5 8.9 20.2 .442 1.0 3.0 .315 7.5 9.4 .795
Don Nelson 72 19.8 10.8 - - 4.4 1.4 - - - 2.2 4.3 9.0 .476 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 5 44.6 22.8 0.0 0.6 0.6 5.8 1.4 0.0 3.0 2.2 8.4 22.8 .368 1.0 3.4 .294 5.0 6.2 .806
Don Nelson 13 23.3 11.0 - - 2.9 1.2 - - - 2.2 3.6 7.8 .465 - - - 3.8 4.3 .875

Season 12

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2007-081973-74
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 82 41.8 26.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.1 2.0 0.1 3.0 1.3 8.7 19.0 .458 1.2 3.4 .345 7.9 9.7 .809
Don Nelson 82 21.3 11.5 1.1 3.1 4.2 2.0 0.2 0.2 - 2.3 4.4 8.7 .508 - - - 2.6 3.3 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 4 39.5 24.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 0.8 9.0 20.8 .434 0.8 3.5 .214 5.8 8.3 .697
Don Nelson 18 25.9 11.4 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.9 0.4 0.2 - 3.0 4.6 9.1 .500 - - - 2.3 2.9 .774

Season 13

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2008-091974-75
Team Denver Nuggets, Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 57 36.7 17.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 1.5 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.1 14.6 .417 0.5 1.7 .283 4.8 6.1 .781
Don Nelson 79 26.0 14.0 1.6 4.3 5.9 2.3 0.4 0.2 - 3.0 5.4 9.9 .539 - - - 3.3 4.0 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson 11 24.9 15.4 1.6 2.5 4.1 2.4 0.2 0.2 - 3.3 6.0 10.6 .564 - - - 3.4 3.7 .902

Season 14

Allen Iverson Don Nelson
Season 2009-101975-76
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson 28 30.9 13.8 0.6 2.3 2.8 4.0 0.7 0.1 2.3 1.7 4.9 11.3 .430 0.3 0.9 .360 3.7 4.7 .794
Don Nelson 75 12.6 6.4 0.7 1.7 2.4 1.0 0.2 0.1 - 1.5 2.3 5.1 .462 - - - 1.7 2.1 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson 18 17.5 9.1 0.9 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.2 0.1 - 2.6 2.9 6.0 .481 - - - 3.3 3.8 .870