Hal Greer vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Hal Greer, 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.

Hal Greer played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Don Nelson, who played 14. Hal Greer had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, 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
Hal Greer 15 13 1958-59 to 1972-73
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

Rookie Season

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1958-591962-63
Team Syracuse NationalsChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer 68 23.9 11.1 - - 2.9 1.5 - - - 2.8 4.5 10.0 .454 - - - 2.0 2.6 .778
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 %
Hal Greer 9 30.8 11.6 - - 5.2 2.2 - - - 3.9 4.3 10.3 .419 - - - 2.9 3.6 .813
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1959-601963-64
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nationals 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 %
Hal Greer 70 28.3 13.2 - - 4.3 2.7 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.6 .476 - - - 2.1 2.7 .783
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 %
Hal Greer 3 28.0 15.7 - - 4.7 3.3 - - - 1.7 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 1.0 1.3 .750
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1960-611964-65
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 79 35.0 19.6 - - 5.8 3.8 - - - 3.1 7.9 17.5 .451 - - - 3.9 5.0 .774
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 %
Hal Greer 8 29.0 14.4 - - 4.1 2.4 - - - 4.0 5.1 13.3 .387 - - - 4.1 5.0 .825
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1961-621965-66
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 71 38.1 22.8 - - 7.4 4.4 - - - 3.5 9.1 20.3 .447 - - - 4.7 5.7 .819
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 %
Hal Greer 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1962-631966-67
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East 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 %
Hal Greer 80 32.9 19.5 - - 5.7 3.4 - - - 3.6 7.5 16.2 .464 - - - 4.5 5.4 .834
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.8 23.4 - - 5.4 4.2 - - - 4.2 8.8 17.4 .506 - - - 5.8 7.0 .829
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1963-641967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 39.5 23.3 - - 6.1 4.7 - - - 3.6 8.9 20.1 .444 - - - 5.4 6.6 .829
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.2 21.4 - - 5.6 6.0 - - - 3.8 7.4 19.0 .389 - - - 6.6 7.8 .846
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1964-651968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 70 37.1 20.2 - - 5.1 4.5 - - - 3.6 7.7 17.8 .433 - - - 4.8 5.9 .811
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 %
Hal Greer 11 45.9 24.6 - - 7.4 5.0 - - - 4.1 9.2 20.2 .455 - - - 6.3 7.9 .793
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1965-661969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer 80 41.6 22.7 - - 5.9 4.8 - - - 3.9 8.8 19.8 .445 - - - 5.2 6.4 .804
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 %
Hal Greer 5 45.2 16.4 - - 7.2 4.2 - - - 4.2 6.4 18.2 .352 - - - 3.6 4.6 .783
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1966-671970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Hal Greer 80 38.6 22.1 - - 5.3 3.8 - - - 3.8 8.7 19.1 .459 - - - 4.6 5.8 .788
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 %
Hal Greer 15 45.9 27.7 - - 5.9 5.3 - - - 3.7 10.7 25.0 .429 - - - 6.3 7.9 .797
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1967-681971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 82 39.8 24.1 - - 5.4 4.5 - - - 3.5 9.5 19.8 .478 - - - 5.1 6.7 .769
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 %
Hal Greer 13 42.5 25.8 - - 6.1 4.2 - - - 3.8 9.2 21.4 .432 - - - 7.3 8.5 .856
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1968-691972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 82 40.4 23.1 - - 5.3 5.0 - - - 3.6 8.9 19.5 .459 - - - 5.3 6.6 .796
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 %
Hal Greer 5 40.8 16.0 - - 6.0 4.6 - - - 4.6 5.2 16.2 .321 - - - 5.6 7.2 .778
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1969-701973-74
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 37.8 22.0 - - 4.7 5.1 - - - 3.8 8.8 19.4 .455 - - - 4.4 5.4 .815
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 %
Hal Greer 5 35.6 15.4 - - 3.4 5.4 - - - 3.2 6.6 14.8 .446 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1970-711974-75
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Hal Greer 81 37.8 18.6 - - 4.5 4.6 - - - 3.6 7.3 16.9 .431 - - - 4.0 5.0 .805
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 %
Hal Greer 7 37.9 17.9 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 5.0 7.0 16.0 .438 - - - 3.9 5.1 .750
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1971-721975-76
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston 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 %
Hal Greer 81 29.8 11.8 - - 3.3 3.9 - - - 3.3 4.8 10.7 .449 - - - 2.2 2.9 .774
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 %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
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

Hal Greer Don Nelson
Season 1972-73-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer 38 22.3 5.6 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.0 2.4 6.1 .392 - - - 0.8 1.0 .821
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------