Monta Ellis vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Monta Ellis, 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.

Monta Ellis played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Monta Ellis had the first of his seasons in 2005-06, 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
Monta Ellis 12 6 2005-06 to 2016-17
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2005-061962-63
Team Golden State WarriorsChicago 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 %
Monta Ellis 49 18.1 6.8 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.7 6.5 .415 0.6 1.7 .341 0.9 1.2 .712
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2006-071963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 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 %
Monta Ellis 77 34.3 16.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 4.1 1.7 0.3 2.9 2.7 6.2 13.1 .475 0.5 1.9 .273 3.5 4.6 .763
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 %
Monta Ellis 11 21.6 8.0 0.7 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.9 0.2 1.8 2.1 2.9 7.5 .390 0.1 0.8 .111 2.1 2.5 .821
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2007-081964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsLos 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 %
Monta Ellis 81 37.9 20.2 1.6 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.5 0.3 2.1 2.4 8.0 15.1 .531 0.1 0.6 .231 4.0 5.1 .767
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2008-091965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Monta Ellis 25 35.7 19.0 0.6 3.8 4.3 3.7 1.6 0.3 2.7 2.7 7.8 17.2 .451 0.3 1.0 .308 3.1 3.8 .830
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2009-101966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Monta Ellis 64 41.4 25.5 0.7 3.3 4.0 5.3 2.2 0.4 3.8 3.0 9.9 22.0 .449 1.2 3.6 .338 4.6 6.1 .753
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2010-111967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Monta Ellis 80 40.3 24.1 0.6 3.0 3.5 5.6 2.1 0.3 3.2 2.5 9.1 20.1 .451 1.7 4.7 .361 4.3 5.4 .789
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2011-121968-69
Team Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee BucksBoston 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 %
Monta Ellis 58 36.6 20.4 0.3 3.1 3.4 6.0 1.5 0.3 3.1 2.3 7.8 17.9 .433 1.1 3.5 .308 3.8 4.7 .796
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2012-131969-70
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Monta Ellis 82 37.5 19.2 0.5 3.3 3.9 6.0 2.1 0.4 3.1 2.0 7.3 17.5 .416 1.1 4.0 .287 3.5 4.6 .773
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 %
Monta Ellis 4 38.0 14.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.5 2.5 0.3 3.5 2.0 6.0 13.8 .436 0.8 4.8 .158 1.5 4.0 .375
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2013-141970-71
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Monta Ellis 82 36.9 19.0 0.5 3.1 3.6 5.7 1.7 0.3 3.2 2.4 7.0 15.6 .451 0.8 2.5 .330 4.1 5.2 .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 %
Monta Ellis 7 35.6 20.4 0.9 1.6 2.4 2.9 1.3 0.1 2.1 2.7 7.4 18.1 .409 1.7 4.9 .353 3.9 4.4 .871
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2014-151971-72
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Monta Ellis 80 33.7 18.9 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.1 1.9 0.3 2.5 2.5 7.5 16.9 .445 1.0 3.6 .285 2.9 3.8 .752
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 %
Monta Ellis 5 39.4 26.0 0.8 2.4 3.2 5.2 2.0 0.6 3.2 3.6 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2015-161972-73
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Monta Ellis 81 33.8 13.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 4.7 1.9 0.5 2.5 2.1 5.4 12.6 .427 1.1 3.5 .309 2.0 2.5 .786
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 %
Monta Ellis 7 32.1 11.6 0.6 3.3 3.9 4.3 2.1 0.0 2.4 2.4 4.7 10.9 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.1 1.4 .800
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

Monta Ellis Don Nelson
Season 2016-171973-74
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Monta Ellis 74 27.0 8.5 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.0 3.3 7.5 .443 0.6 1.8 .319 1.3 1.7 .727
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 %
Monta Ellis 4 19.0 5.5 0.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.3 .800
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

Monta Ellis 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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Monta Ellis 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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------
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