Jaylen Brown vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Jaylen Brown, 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.

Jaylen Brown played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Jaylen Brown had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, 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
Jaylen Brown 8 7 2016-17 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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2016-171962-63
Team Boston CelticsChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jaylen Brown 78 17.2 6.6 0.6 2.2 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.8 2.5 5.4 .454 0.6 1.7 .341 1.1 1.6 .685
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 %
Jaylen Brown 17 12.6 5.0 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.5 2.0 4.2 .479 0.3 1.4 .217 0.7 1.1 .667
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2017-181963-64
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Jaylen Brown 70 30.7 14.5 0.9 4.0 4.9 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.8 2.6 5.3 11.5 .465 1.7 4.4 .395 2.1 3.3 .644
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 %
Jaylen Brown 18 32.4 18.0 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.4 0.8 0.6 1.3 3.2 6.9 14.8 .466 2.4 6.2 .393 1.8 2.8 .640
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2018-191964-65
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 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 %
Jaylen Brown 74 25.9 13.0 0.9 3.4 4.2 1.4 0.9 0.4 1.3 2.5 5.0 10.7 .465 1.3 3.7 .344 1.8 2.7 .658
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 %
Jaylen Brown 9 30.4 13.9 0.7 5.1 5.8 1.1 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.3 4.9 9.7 .506 1.6 4.4 .350 2.6 3.3 .767
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2019-201965-66
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown 57 33.9 20.3 1.1 5.3 6.4 2.1 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.9 7.5 15.6 .481 2.3 5.9 .382 3.1 4.3 .724
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 %
Jaylen Brown 17 39.5 21.8 1.4 6.1 7.5 2.3 1.5 0.5 2.4 2.8 8.1 16.9 .476 2.5 7.1 .358 3.1 3.7 .841
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2020-211966-67
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Jaylen Brown 58 34.5 24.7 1.2 4.8 6.0 3.4 1.2 0.6 2.7 2.9 9.3 19.2 .484 2.8 7.1 .397 3.3 4.3 .764
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2021-221967-68
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown 66 33.6 23.6 0.8 5.3 6.1 3.5 1.1 0.3 2.7 2.5 8.7 18.4 .473 2.5 7.0 .358 3.7 4.8 .758
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 %
Jaylen Brown 24 38.3 23.1 1.4 5.5 6.9 3.5 1.1 0.4 3.1 3.0 8.2 17.5 .470 2.5 6.7 .373 4.2 5.5 .763
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2022-231968-69
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown 67 35.9 26.6 1.2 5.7 6.9 3.5 1.1 0.4 2.9 2.6 10.1 20.6 .491 2.4 7.3 .335 3.9 5.1 .765
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 %
Jaylen Brown 20 37.6 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.6 3.4 1.1 0.4 3.3 3.1 9.1 18.3 .496 2.0 5.7 .354 2.6 3.7 .689
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season 2023-241969-70
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics TBDDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jaylen Brown 70 33.5 23.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 3.6 1.2 0.5 2.4 2.6 9.0 17.9 .499 2.1 5.9 .354 3.0 4.3 .703
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 %
Jaylen Brown 18 36.8 24.1 1.2 4.6 5.8 3.1 1.2 0.7 2.8 2.6 9.3 17.6 .532 1.9 5.6 .337 3.5 5.4 .649
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season -1970-71
Team -Boston Celtics
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season -1971-72
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season -1972-73
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season -1973-74
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
Jaylen Brown Don Nelson
Season -1974-75
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
Jaylen Brown 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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jaylen Brown ------- --- ----------
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
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