Eric Gordon vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Eric Gordon, 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.

Eric Gordon played 16 years in the NBA, 2 more than Don Nelson, who played 14. Eric Gordon had the first of his seasons in 2008-09, 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
Eric Gordon 16 7 2008-09 to 2023-24
Don Nelson 14 11 1962-63 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2008-091962-63
Team Los Angeles ClippersChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second 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 %
Eric Gordon 78 34.3 16.1 0.6 2.0 2.6 2.8 1.0 0.4 2.1 2.2 5.3 11.6 .456 1.7 4.3 .389 3.8 4.5 .854
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2009-101963-64
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos 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 %
Eric Gordon 62 36.0 16.9 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.0 1.1 0.2 2.3 1.5 5.7 12.6 .449 1.9 5.2 .371 3.6 4.8 .742
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2010-111964-65
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 56 37.7 22.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 4.4 1.3 0.3 2.7 2.1 7.6 16.9 .450 1.9 5.2 .364 5.1 6.2 .825
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2011-121965-66
Team New Orleans HornetsBoston 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 %
Eric Gordon 9 34.4 20.6 0.2 2.6 2.8 3.4 1.4 0.4 2.7 2.2 7.0 15.6 .450 1.1 4.4 .250 5.4 7.2 .754
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2012-131966-67
Team New Orleans HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Eric Gordon 42 30.1 17.0 0.2 1.6 1.8 3.3 1.1 0.2 2.8 1.8 5.6 13.9 .402 1.3 4.1 .324 4.5 5.3 .842
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2013-141967-68
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston 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 %
Eric Gordon 64 32.1 15.4 0.5 2.1 2.6 3.3 1.2 0.2 2.1 1.8 5.6 12.8 .436 1.6 4.0 .391 2.7 3.5 .785
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2014-151968-69
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pelicans 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 %
Eric Gordon 61 33.1 13.4 0.5 2.1 2.6 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.0 2.4 4.7 11.4 .411 2.3 5.2 .448 1.8 2.2 .805
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 %
Eric Gordon 4 35.8 18.5 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.8 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.8 7.0 15.8 .444 3.3 8.0 .406 1.3 1.5 .833
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2015-161969-70
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston 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 %
Eric Gordon 45 32.9 15.2 0.2 2.0 2.2 2.7 1.0 0.3 1.6 2.2 5.1 12.3 .418 2.5 6.5 .384 2.5 2.8 .888
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2016-171970-71
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 75 31.0 16.2 0.4 2.3 2.7 2.5 0.6 0.5 1.6 2.0 5.5 13.5 .406 3.3 8.8 .372 2.0 2.3 .840
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 %
Eric Gordon 11 32.5 12.9 0.5 3.5 3.9 2.0 0.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 4.6 11.0 .421 2.5 6.4 .386 1.2 1.6 .722
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2017-181971-72
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Eric Gordon 69 31.2 18.0 0.4 2.1 2.5 2.2 0.6 0.4 1.9 1.7 6.0 14.1 .428 3.2 8.8 .359 2.8 3.5 .809
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 %
Eric Gordon 17 32.3 15.4 0.5 2.1 2.6 1.6 0.6 0.5 1.4 1.7 4.9 13.0 .380 2.5 7.6 .331 3.0 3.6 .836
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2018-191972-73
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Eric Gordon 68 31.7 16.2 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.9 0.6 0.4 1.3 2.1 5.6 13.8 .409 3.2 8.8 .360 1.8 2.2 .783
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 %
Eric Gordon 11 37.3 17.8 0.5 2.1 2.5 1.3 0.6 1.0 2.5 2.0 6.1 13.6 .447 3.5 8.6 .400 2.2 2.5 .857
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2019-201973-74
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Eric Gordon 36 28.2 14.4 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.4 1.2 1.9 4.8 12.9 .369 2.7 8.4 .317 2.3 3.0 .766
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 %
Eric Gordon 12 34.2 17.3 0.5 2.2 2.7 3.0 0.8 0.6 2.0 2.2 6.0 14.7 .409 2.4 7.5 .322 2.9 3.3 .875
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2020-211974-75
Team Houston RocketsBoston 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 %
Eric Gordon 27 29.2 17.8 0.3 1.9 2.1 2.6 0.5 0.5 1.9 1.6 5.9 13.6 .433 2.6 7.8 .329 3.5 4.2 .825
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2021-221975-76
Team Houston RocketsBoston 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 %
Eric Gordon 57 29.3 13.4 0.3 1.7 2.0 2.7 0.5 0.3 1.9 1.1 4.7 9.9 .475 2.2 5.3 .412 1.8 2.4 .778
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 %
Eric Gordon ------- --- ----------
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

Season 15

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2022-23-
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 69 28.5 12.4 0.2 1.7 1.9 2.7 0.6 0.4 1.5 1.1 4.2 9.5 .446 1.9 5.2 .371 2.1 2.5 .821
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 5 29.8 10.2 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.6 0.4 0.8 2.4 3.6 8.8 .409 2.0 5.8 .345 1.0 1.2 .833
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Eric Gordon Don Nelson
Season 2023-24-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 68 27.8 11.0 0.2 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.4 1.1 1.2 4.0 9.1 .443 2.2 5.8 .378 0.8 0.9 .797
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eric Gordon 4 29.5 8.0 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.3 1.3 0.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 7.0 .321 1.8 4.3 .412 1.8 2.0 .875
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------