Gail Goodrich vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Gail Goodrich, 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.

Gail Goodrich and Don Nelson both played 14 years in the NBA. Gail Goodrich had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, 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
Gail Goodrich 14 8 1965-66 to 1978-79
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1965-661962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Zephyrs
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 %
Gail Goodrich 65 15.5 7.8 - - 2.0 1.6 - - - 1.6 3.1 7.7 .404 - - - 1.6 2.3 .691
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 %
Gail Goodrich 11 26.4 10.5 - - 3.8 3.0 - - - 3.2 3.9 8.4 .467 - - - 2.6 3.9 .674
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1966-671963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Gail Goodrich 77 23.1 12.4 - - 3.3 2.7 - - - 2.5 4.6 10.1 .454 - - - 3.3 4.4 .751
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 %
Gail Goodrich 3 27.0 11.0 - - 3.0 3.3 - - - 1.7 3.7 10.3 .355 - - - 3.7 6.0 .611
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1967-681964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 79 26.0 13.8 - - 2.5 2.6 - - - 2.9 5.0 10.3 .486 - - - 3.8 5.0 .770
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 %
Gail Goodrich 10 10.0 6.0 - - 1.4 1.4 - - - 1.0 2.3 4.7 .489 - - - 1.4 1.8 .778
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1968-691965-66
Team Phoenix SunsBoston 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 40.0 23.8 - - 5.4 6.4 - - - 3.1 8.9 21.6 .411 - - - 6.1 8.2 .747
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1969-701966-67
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 39.9 20.0 - - 4.2 7.5 - - - 3.1 7.0 15.4 .454 - - - 6.0 7.5 .808
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 %
Gail Goodrich 7 37.9 20.3 - - 4.6 5.4 - - - 3.0 8.0 16.9 .475 - - - 4.3 5.0 .857
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1970-711967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Gail Goodrich 79 35.5 17.5 - - 3.3 4.8 - - - 3.3 7.1 14.9 .475 - - - 3.3 4.3 .770
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 %
Gail Goodrich 12 43.2 25.4 - - 3.2 7.6 - - - 3.2 8.8 20.6 .425 - - - 7.9 9.4 .841
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1971-721968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Gail Goodrich 82 37.1 25.9 - - 3.6 4.5 - - - 2.6 10.1 20.7 .487 - - - 5.8 6.8 .850
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 %
Gail Goodrich 15 38.3 23.8 - - 2.5 3.3 - - - 3.3 8.7 19.5 .445 - - - 6.5 7.2 .898
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1972-731969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Gail Goodrich 76 35.5 23.9 - - 3.5 4.4 - - - 2.5 9.9 21.3 .464 - - - 4.1 4.9 .840
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 %
Gail Goodrich 17 35.5 20.0 - - 3.6 3.9 - - - 3.1 8.2 18.2 .448 - - - 3.6 4.6 .785
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1973-741970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Gail Goodrich 82 37.3 25.3 1.2 1.9 3.0 5.2 1.5 0.1 - 2.8 9.6 21.6 .442 - - - 6.2 7.2 .864
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 %
Gail Goodrich 5 37.8 19.6 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.0 1.4 0.2 - 1.4 7.0 18.0 .389 - - - 5.6 6.6 .848
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1974-751971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston 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 %
Gail Goodrich 72 37.1 22.6 1.3 1.7 3.0 5.8 1.4 0.1 - 3.0 9.1 19.8 .459 - - - 4.4 5.3 .841
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1975-761972-73
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 %
Gail Goodrich 75 35.3 19.5 1.3 1.6 2.9 5.6 1.6 0.2 - 3.2 7.8 17.6 .441 - - - 3.9 4.6 .847
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1976-771973-74
Team New Orleans JazzBoston 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 %
Gail Goodrich 27 22.6 12.6 0.9 1.3 2.3 2.7 0.8 0.1 - 1.6 5.0 11.3 .446 - - - 2.5 3.1 .800
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1977-781974-75
Team New Orleans JazzBoston 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 31.5 16.1 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.4 13.0 .495 - - - 3.3 4.1 .795
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Don Nelson
Season 1978-791975-76
Team New Orleans JazzBoston 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 %
Gail Goodrich 74 28.8 12.7 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.8 1.2 0.2 2.5 2.4 5.2 11.5 .449 - - - 2.4 2.8 .853
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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