Gordon Hayward vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

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

Gordon Hayward and Don Nelson both played 14 years in the NBA. Gordon Hayward had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, 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
Gordon Hayward 14 5 2010-11 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

Rookie Season

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2010-111962-63
Team Utah JazzChicago Zephyrs
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 %
Gordon Hayward 72 16.9 5.4 0.6 1.4 1.9 1.1 0.4 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.1 .485 0.5 1.0 .473 1.0 1.3 .711
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2011-121963-64
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Gordon Hayward 66 30.5 11.8 0.9 2.6 3.5 3.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.6 4.0 8.9 .456 0.8 2.4 .346 2.9 3.5 .832
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 %
Gordon Hayward 4 30.8 7.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.0 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.0 1.5 8.3 .182 0.3 3.0 .083 4.0 4.0 1.000
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2012-131964-65
Team Utah JazzLos 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 %
Gordon Hayward 72 29.2 14.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.0 0.8 0.5 1.7 1.7 4.7 10.7 .435 1.4 3.4 .415 3.4 4.1 .827
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2013-141965-66
Team Utah 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 %
Gordon Hayward 77 36.4 16.2 0.8 4.3 5.1 5.2 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.0 5.5 13.4 .413 1.1 3.6 .304 4.0 4.9 .816
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2014-151966-67
Team Utah JazzBoston 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 %
Gordon Hayward 76 34.4 19.3 0.7 4.2 4.9 4.1 1.4 0.4 2.7 1.7 6.4 14.3 .445 1.6 4.3 .364 4.9 6.1 .812
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2015-161967-68
Team Utah 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 %
Gordon Hayward 80 36.2 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 3.7 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.5 15.0 .433 1.8 5.1 .349 4.9 6.0 .824
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2016-171968-69
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Gordon Hayward 73 34.5 21.9 0.7 4.7 5.4 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.9 1.6 7.5 15.8 .471 2.0 5.1 .398 5.0 5.9 .844
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 %
Gordon Hayward 11 37.4 24.1 0.6 5.5 6.1 3.4 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.1 7.5 17.1 .441 2.5 6.2 .412 6.5 6.9 .934
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2017-181969-70
Team Boston CelticsBoston 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 %
Gordon Hayward 1 5.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2018-191970-71
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Gordon Hayward 72 25.9 11.5 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.4 0.9 0.3 1.5 1.4 4.1 8.8 .466 1.1 3.2 .333 2.2 2.6 .834
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 %
Gordon Hayward 9 29.7 9.6 0.3 3.7 4.0 2.4 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.8 3.2 7.8 .414 1.0 2.7 .375 2.1 2.1 1.000
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2019-201971-72
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Gordon Hayward 52 33.5 17.5 1.1 5.6 6.7 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.8 6.7 13.5 .500 1.6 4.3 .383 2.4 2.8 .855
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 %
Gordon Hayward 5 31.4 10.8 0.6 3.4 4.0 2.8 1.4 0.4 1.4 2.0 4.0 10.0 .400 1.4 4.8 .292 1.4 1.6 .875
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2020-211972-73
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston 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 %
Gordon Hayward 44 34.0 19.6 0.8 5.0 5.9 4.1 1.2 0.3 2.1 1.7 7.1 15.0 .473 1.9 4.7 .415 3.5 4.2 .843
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2021-221973-74
Team Charlotte 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 %
Gordon Hayward 49 31.9 15.9 0.8 3.8 4.6 3.6 1.0 0.4 1.7 1.7 5.8 12.6 .459 1.8 4.5 .391 2.6 3.0 .846
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2022-231974-75
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston 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 %
Gordon Hayward 50 31.5 14.7 0.7 3.6 4.3 4.1 0.8 0.2 2.0 1.4 5.5 11.6 .475 1.0 3.2 .325 2.6 3.2 .811
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 %
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------
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

Gordon Hayward Don Nelson
Season 2023-241975-76
Team Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder TBDNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gordon Hayward 51 24.4 9.8 0.7 2.8 3.5 3.1 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.3 3.7 7.9 .464 0.7 1.8 .411 1.7 2.4 .742
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 %
Gordon Hayward 7 6.6 0.0 0.1 1.7 1.9 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.4 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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