Don Nelson vs. Nick Young Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nick Young 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, 2 more than Nick Young, who played 12. Don Nelson had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Nick Young had his rookie season in 2007-08. 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
Nick Young 12 3 2007-08 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1962-632007-08
Team Chicago ZephyrsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWizards Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Nick Young 75 15.4 7.5 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 1.3 1.7 2.8 6.4 .439 0.5 1.3 .400 1.3 1.7 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Nick Young 4 4.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 2.3 .111 0.0 0.5 .000 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1963-642008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid 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 80 17.6 5.2 - - 4.0 1.0 - - - 2.3 1.7 4.0 .418 - - - 1.9 2.5 .741
Nick Young 82 22.4 10.9 0.4 1.5 1.8 1.2 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.7 4.1 9.2 .444 0.7 2.0 .341 2.0 2.4 .850
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1964-652009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid 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 39 6.1 2.4 - - 1.9 0.6 - - - 1.0 0.9 2.2 .424 - - - 0.5 0.7 .769
Nick Young 74 19.2 8.6 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.8 2.0 3.1 7.5 .418 0.9 2.3 .406 1.4 1.8 .800
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1965-662010-11
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Nelson 75 23.5 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 2.5 3.6 8.2 .439 - - - 3.0 4.3 .684
Nick Young 64 31.8 17.4 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.2 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.3 6.4 14.6 .441 1.6 4.2 .387 2.9 3.6 .816
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1966-672011-12
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsClippers Lost West Conf 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 15.2 7.5 - - 3.7 0.8 - - - 1.8 2.9 6.4 .446 - - - 1.8 2.4 .742
Nick Young 62 27.9 14.2 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.9 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.3 5.1 12.6 .403 1.7 4.5 .365 2.3 2.7 .852
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
Nick Young 11 18.2 8.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.8 2.6 6.1 .433 1.5 3.0 .515 1.5 1.6 .889

Season 6

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1967-682012-13
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Nelson 82 18.3 10.0 - - 5.3 1.3 - - - 2.2 3.8 7.7 .494 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
Nick Young 59 23.9 10.6 0.4 1.8 2.2 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.4 3.8 9.2 .413 1.3 3.6 .357 1.8 2.2 .820
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1968-692013-14
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Nelson 82 21.6 11.6 - - 5.6 1.1 - - - 2.4 4.6 9.4 .485 - - - 2.5 3.2 .776
Nick Young 64 28.3 17.9 0.5 2.1 2.6 1.5 0.7 0.2 1.5 2.4 6.0 13.9 .435 2.1 5.5 .386 3.7 4.5 .825
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1969-702014-15
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Nelson 82 27.1 15.4 - - 7.3 1.8 - - - 2.9 5.6 11.2 .501 - - - 4.1 5.3 .775
Nick Young 42 23.8 13.4 0.4 1.9 2.3 1.0 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.0 4.1 11.3 .366 2.0 5.4 .369 3.1 3.5 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1970-712015-16
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Nelson 82 27.5 13.9 - - 6.9 1.9 - - - 2.8 5.0 10.7 .468 - - - 3.9 5.2 .744
Nick Young 54 19.1 7.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.9 2.3 6.9 .339 1.4 4.4 .325 1.2 1.4 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1971-722016-17
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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 82 25.4 13.8 - - 5.5 2.3 - - - 2.7 4.7 9.9 .480 - - - 4.3 5.5 .788
Nick Young 60 25.9 13.2 0.4 1.9 2.3 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.6 2.3 4.5 10.6 .430 2.8 7.0 .404 1.3 1.5 .856
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1972-732017-18
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA 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 72 19.8 10.8 - - 4.4 1.4 - - - 2.2 4.3 9.0 .476 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
Nick Young 80 17.4 7.3 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.3 2.5 6.1 .412 1.5 4.1 .377 0.7 0.8 .862
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
Nick Young 20 10.3 2.6 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.7 .302 0.7 2.4 .298 0.3 0.4 .750

Season 12

Don Nelson Nick Young
Season 1973-742018-19
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
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 %
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
Nick Young 4 9.3 2.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.5 1.0 0.8 2.3 .333 0.8 2.0 .375 0.0 0.0 -
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Don Nelson Nick Young
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 %
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Don Nelson Nick Young
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 %
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------
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
Nick Young ------- --- ----------