Earl Monroe vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Earl Monroe, 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.

Earl Monroe played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Earl Monroe had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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
Earl Monroe 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1967-681962-63
Team Baltimore BulletsChicago 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 %
Earl Monroe 82 36.7 24.3 - - 5.7 4.3 - - - 3.4 9.0 20.0 .453 - - - 6.2 7.9 .781
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1968-691963-64
Team Baltimore BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisLakers 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 %
Earl Monroe 80 38.4 25.8 - - 3.5 4.9 - - - 3.3 10.1 23.0 .440 - - - 5.6 7.3 .768
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 %
Earl Monroe 4 42.8 28.3 - - 5.3 4.0 - - - 2.5 11.0 28.5 .386 - - - 6.3 7.8 .806
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1969-701964-65
Team Baltimore BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div 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 %
Earl Monroe 82 37.2 23.4 - - 3.1 4.9 - - - 3.1 8.5 19.0 .446 - - - 6.5 7.8 .830
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 %
Earl Monroe 7 42.7 28.0 - - 3.3 4.0 - - - 3.3 10.6 22.0 .481 - - - 6.9 8.6 .800
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1970-711965-66
Team Baltimore BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA 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 %
Earl Monroe 81 35.1 21.4 - - 2.6 4.4 - - - 2.7 8.2 18.5 .442 - - - 5.0 6.2 .802
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 %
Earl Monroe 18 37.3 22.1 - - 3.6 4.1 - - - 3.1 8.1 19.8 .407 - - - 5.9 7.5 .793
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1971-721966-67
Team Baltimore Bullets, New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Earl Monroe 63 21.2 11.9 - - 1.6 2.3 - - - 2.2 4.6 10.5 .434 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781
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 %
Earl Monroe 16 26.8 12.3 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.6 4.8 11.6 .411 - - - 2.8 3.6 .789
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1972-731967-68
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Earl Monroe 75 31.6 15.5 - - 3.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 6.6 13.5 .488 - - - 2.3 2.8 .822
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 %
Earl Monroe 16 31.5 16.1 - - 3.2 3.2 - - - 2.4 6.9 13.2 .526 - - - 2.3 3.0 .750
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1973-741968-69
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Earl Monroe 41 29.1 14.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 2.7 0.8 0.5 - 2.4 5.9 12.5 .468 - - - 2.3 2.8 .823
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 %
Earl Monroe 12 33.9 17.4 0.7 3.3 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.8 - 2.2 6.8 13.8 .491 - - - 3.9 4.6 .855
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1974-751969-70
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Earl Monroe 78 36.1 20.9 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.5 1.4 0.4 - 2.6 8.6 18.7 .457 - - - 3.8 4.6 .827
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 %
Earl Monroe 3 29.7 14.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 - 2.0 4.0 15.0 .267 - - - 6.0 7.3 .818
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1975-761970-71
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
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 %
Earl Monroe 76 38.0 20.7 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.0 1.5 0.3 - 2.8 8.5 17.8 .478 - - - 3.7 4.7 .787
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1976-771971-72
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Earl Monroe 77 34.5 19.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.8 1.2 0.3 - 2.6 8.0 15.4 .517 - - - 4.0 4.8 .839
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1977-781972-73
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Earl Monroe 76 31.2 17.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 4.8 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.5 7.3 14.8 .495 - - - 3.2 3.8 .832
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 %
Earl Monroe 6 24.2 9.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1978-791973-74
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Earl Monroe 64 21.8 12.3 0.4 0.8 1.2 3.0 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.9 5.1 10.9 .471 - - - 2.0 2.4 .838
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Monroe Don Nelson
Season 1979-801974-75
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Earl Monroe 51 12.4 7.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.2 6.9 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.3 .875
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Monroe 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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
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