Anthony Davis vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Anthony Davis, 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.

Anthony Davis played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Anthony Davis had the first of his seasons in 2012-13, 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
Anthony Davis 12 6 2012-13 to 2023-24
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2012-131962-63
Team New Orleans HornetsChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards 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 %
Anthony Davis 64 28.8 13.5 2.6 5.6 8.2 1.0 1.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 5.5 10.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .751
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2013-141963-64
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Anthony Davis 67 35.2 20.8 3.1 7.0 10.0 1.6 1.3 2.8 1.6 3.0 7.8 15.0 .519 0.0 0.1 .222 5.2 6.6 .791
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2014-151964-65
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Davis 68 36.1 24.4 2.5 7.7 10.2 2.2 1.5 2.9 1.4 2.1 9.4 17.6 .535 0.0 0.2 .083 5.5 6.8 .805
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 %
Anthony Davis 4 43.0 31.5 2.3 8.8 11.0 2.0 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.0 11.8 21.8 .540 0.0 0.5 .000 8.0 9.0 .889
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2015-161965-66
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston 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 %
Anthony Davis 61 35.5 24.3 2.1 8.1 10.3 1.9 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 9.2 18.6 .493 0.6 1.8 .324 5.3 7.0 .758
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2016-171966-67
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Anthony Davis 75 36.1 28.0 2.3 9.5 11.8 2.1 1.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 10.3 20.3 .505 0.5 1.8 .299 6.9 8.6 .802
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2017-181967-68
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West 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 %
Anthony Davis 75 36.4 28.1 2.5 8.6 11.1 2.3 1.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 10.4 19.5 .534 0.7 2.2 .340 6.6 8.0 .828
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 %
Anthony Davis 9 39.8 30.1 2.7 10.8 13.4 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.3 11.8 22.7 .520 0.7 2.4 .273 5.9 7.1 .828
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2018-191968-69
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston 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 %
Anthony Davis 56 33.0 25.9 3.1 8.9 12.0 3.9 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 9.5 18.3 .517 0.9 2.6 .331 6.1 7.7 .794
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2019-201969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Davis 62 34.4 26.1 2.3 7.0 9.3 3.2 1.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 8.9 17.7 .503 1.2 3.5 .330 7.2 8.5 .846
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 %
Anthony Davis 21 36.6 27.7 2.6 7.1 9.7 3.5 1.2 1.4 2.5 2.7 9.8 17.1 .571 1.1 2.9 .383 7.1 8.5 .832
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2020-211970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Anthony Davis 36 32.3 21.8 1.7 6.2 7.9 3.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 1.7 8.4 17.0 .491 0.7 2.8 .260 4.4 5.9 .738
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 %
Anthony Davis 5 28.8 17.4 1.4 5.2 6.6 2.6 0.6 1.6 1.2 1.8 5.0 12.4 .403 0.4 2.2 .182 7.0 8.4 .833
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2021-221971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Anthony Davis 40 35.1 23.2 2.7 7.2 9.9 3.1 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.4 9.3 17.4 .532 0.3 1.8 .186 4.4 6.1 .713
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2022-231972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Anthony Davis 56 34.0 25.9 3.5 9.1 12.5 2.6 1.1 2.0 2.2 2.6 9.7 17.2 .563 0.3 1.3 .257 6.2 7.9 .784
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 %
Anthony Davis 16 38.0 22.6 2.4 11.7 14.1 2.6 1.4 3.1 2.1 2.9 8.3 15.9 .520 0.3 0.9 .333 5.8 6.8 .852
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season 2023-241973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
Others NBA Cup In-Season Tournament Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Davis 76 35.5 24.7 3.1 9.5 12.6 3.5 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 9.4 16.9 .556 0.4 1.4 .271 5.5 6.8 .816
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 %
Anthony Davis 5 41.6 27.8 3.0 12.6 15.6 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.2 3.8 11.8 18.6 .634 0.0 1.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .808
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season -1974-75
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
Anthony Davis Don Nelson
Season -1975-76
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Anthony Davis ------- --- ----------
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
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