Don Nelson vs. Dolph Schayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dolph Schayes and Don Nelson, 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.

Don Nelson played 14 years in the NBA, 1 less than Dolph Schayes, who played 15. Don Nelson had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Dolph Schayes had his rookie season in 1949-50. 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
Don Nelson 14 11 1962-63 to 1975-76
Dolph Schayes 15 14 1949-50 to 1963-64

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1962-631949-50
Team Chicago ZephyrsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNationals Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 62 17.3 6.8 - - 4.5 1.2 - - - 2.2 2.1 4.7 .440 - - - 2.6 3.6 .729
Dolph Schayes 64 - 16.8 - - - 4.0 - - - 3.5 5.4 14.1 .385 - - - 5.9 7.6 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Dolph Schayes 11 - 17.1 - - - 2.5 - - - 3.9 5.2 13.5 .385 - - - 6.7 9.2 .733

Season 2

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1963-641950-51
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisNationals 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 %
Don Nelson 80 17.6 5.2 - - 4.0 1.0 - - - 2.3 1.7 4.0 .418 - - - 1.9 2.5 .741
Dolph Schayes 66 - 17.0 - - 16.4 3.8 - - - 4.1 5.0 14.1 .357 - - - 6.9 9.2 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 5 11.2 3.4 - - 2.6 0.4 - - - 2.2 1.4 2.6 .538 - - - 0.6 0.6 1.000
Dolph Schayes 7 - 20.4 - - 14.6 2.9 - - - 4.0 6.7 15.0 .448 - - - 7.0 9.1 .766

Season 3

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1964-651951-52
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals 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 %
Don Nelson 39 6.1 2.4 - - 1.9 0.6 - - - 1.0 0.9 2.2 .424 - - - 0.5 0.7 .769
Dolph Schayes 63 31.8 13.8 - - 12.3 2.9 - - - 3.4 4.2 11.7 .355 - - - 5.4 6.7 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 11 19.3 6.1 - - 5.4 1.7 - - - 2.8 2.2 4.8 .453 - - - 1.7 2.3 .760
Dolph Schayes 7 35.4 20.3 - - 12.9 2.1 - - - 4.9 5.9 13.0 .451 - - - 8.6 11.1 .769

Season 4

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1965-661952-53
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 75 23.5 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 2.5 3.6 8.2 .439 - - - 3.0 4.3 .684
Dolph Schayes 71 37.6 17.8 - - 13.0 3.2 - - - 3.8 5.3 14.4 .367 - - - 7.2 8.7 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 17 18.6 8.4 - - 5.0 0.8 - - - 2.9 2.9 6.9 .424 - - - 2.5 3.1 .808
Dolph Schayes 2 29.0 9.0 - - 8.5 0.5 - - - 3.5 2.0 8.0 .250 - - - 5.0 6.5 .769

Season 5

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1966-671953-54
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsNationals Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 79 15.2 7.5 - - 3.7 0.8 - - - 1.8 2.9 6.4 .446 - - - 1.8 2.4 .742
Dolph Schayes 72 36.9 17.1 - - 12.1 3.0 - - - 3.2 5.1 13.5 .380 - - - 6.8 8.2 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 9 15.8 7.1 - - 4.7 1.0 - - - 1.3 3.0 6.6 .458 - - - 1.1 1.9 .588
Dolph Schayes 13 28.8 16.0 - - 10.5 1.8 - - - 3.1 4.9 10.8 .457 - - - 6.2 8.3 .741

Season 6

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1967-681954-55
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 82 18.3 10.0 - - 5.3 1.3 - - - 2.2 3.8 7.7 .494 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
Dolph Schayes 72 35.1 18.5 - - 12.3 3.0 - - - 3.4 5.9 15.3 .383 - - - 6.8 8.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 19 24.6 12.5 - - 7.5 1.7 - - - 2.6 4.8 9.2 .520 - - - 2.9 3.9 .743
Dolph Schayes 11 33.0 19.0 - - 12.8 3.6 - - - 4.4 5.5 15.2 .359 - - - 8.1 9.6 .840

Season 7

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1968-691955-56
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 %
Don Nelson 82 21.6 11.6 - - 5.6 1.1 - - - 2.4 4.6 9.4 .485 - - - 2.5 3.2 .776
Dolph Schayes 72 35.0 20.4 - - 12.4 2.8 - - - 3.5 6.5 16.7 .387 - - - 7.5 8.8 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 18 19.3 12.4 - - 4.6 1.2 - - - 2.8 4.8 9.3 .518 - - - 2.8 3.3 .833
Dolph Schayes 8 38.8 22.1 - - 13.9 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.5 17.8 .366 - - - 9.1 10.4 .880

Season 8

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1969-701956-57
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNationals 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 %
Don Nelson 82 27.1 15.4 - - 7.3 1.8 - - - 2.9 5.6 11.2 .501 - - - 4.1 5.3 .775
Dolph Schayes 72 39.6 22.5 - - 14.0 3.2 - - - 3.0 6.9 18.2 .379 - - - 8.7 9.6 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Dolph Schayes 5 43.0 21.4 - - 18.0 2.8 - - - 3.6 5.8 19.0 .305 - - - 9.8 11.0 .891

Season 9

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1970-711957-58
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 82 27.5 13.9 - - 6.9 1.9 - - - 2.8 5.0 10.7 .468 - - - 3.9 5.2 .744
Dolph Schayes 72 40.5 24.9 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.4 8.1 20.3 .398 - - - 8.7 9.7 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Dolph Schayes 3 43.7 26.7 - - 15.0 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.3 .391 - - - 10.0 12.0 .833

Season 10

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1971-721958-59
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNationals 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 %
Don Nelson 82 25.4 13.8 - - 5.5 2.3 - - - 2.7 4.7 9.9 .480 - - - 4.3 5.5 .788
Dolph Schayes 72 36.7 21.3 - - 13.4 2.5 - - - 3.9 7.0 18.1 .387 - - - 7.3 8.5 .864
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 11 28.0 13.2 - - 5.5 1.9 - - - 2.7 4.7 9.0 .525 - - - 3.7 4.4 .854
Dolph Schayes 9 39.0 28.2 - - 13.0 4.6 - - - 4.0 8.7 21.7 .400 - - - 10.9 11.9 .916

Season 11

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1972-731959-60
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 72 19.8 10.8 - - 4.4 1.4 - - - 2.2 4.3 9.0 .476 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
Dolph Schayes 75 36.5 22.5 - - 12.8 3.4 - - - 3.5 7.7 19.2 .401 - - - 7.1 8.0 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson 13 23.3 11.0 - - 2.9 1.2 - - - 2.2 3.6 7.8 .465 - - - 3.8 4.3 .875
Dolph Schayes 3 42.0 29.3 - - 16.0 2.7 - - - 3.3 10.0 22.0 .455 - - - 9.3 10.0 .933

Season 12

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1973-741960-61
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 %
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
Dolph Schayes 79 38.1 23.6 - - 12.2 3.7 - - - 3.7 7.5 20.2 .372 - - - 8.6 9.9 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dolph Schayes 8 38.5 20.6 - - 11.4 2.6 - - - 4.0 6.4 19.0 .336 - - - 7.9 8.8 .900

Season 13

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1974-751961-62
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dolph Schayes 56 26.4 14.7 - - 7.8 2.1 - - - 3.0 4.8 13.4 .357 - - - 5.1 5.7 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dolph Schayes 5 19.0 11.4 - - 7.0 1.0 - - - 4.2 4.8 13.2 .364 - - - 1.8 2.6 .692

Season 14

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season 1975-761962-63
Team Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dolph Schayes 66 21.8 9.5 - - 5.7 2.7 - - - 2.7 3.4 8.7 .388 - - - 2.7 3.1 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dolph Schayes 5 21.6 10.2 - - 5.6 1.4 - - - 3.4 4.0 8.8 .455 - - - 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 15

Don Nelson Dolph Schayes
Season -1963-64
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Dolph Schayes 24 14.6 5.6 - - 4.6 2.0 - - - 3.2 1.8 6.0 .308 - - - 1.9 2.4 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Dolph Schayes ------- --- ----------