Roy Hibbert vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Roy Hibbert, 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.

Roy Hibbert played 9 years in the NBA, 5 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Roy Hibbert had the first of his seasons in 2008-09, 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
Roy Hibbert 9 4 2008-09 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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2008-091962-63
Team Indiana PacersChicago 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 %
Roy Hibbert 70 14.4 7.1 1.6 1.8 3.5 0.7 0.3 1.1 0.8 3.1 2.8 6.0 .471 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .667
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2009-101963-64
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Roy Hibbert 81 25.1 11.7 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.0 0.4 1.6 1.8 3.5 4.8 9.7 .495 0.0 0.1 .500 2.1 2.8 .754
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2010-111964-65
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Roy Hibbert 81 27.7 12.7 2.2 5.3 7.5 2.0 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.2 5.1 11.0 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.4 .745
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 %
Roy Hibbert 5 26.4 10.4 3.0 3.8 6.8 0.6 0.4 1.8 2.6 4.2 4.0 9.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2011-121965-66
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Roy Hibbert 65 29.8 12.8 3.3 5.5 8.8 1.7 0.5 2.0 2.0 3.0 5.1 10.3 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.7 .711
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 %
Roy Hibbert 11 30.9 11.7 4.1 7.1 11.2 1.1 0.4 3.1 2.0 3.5 4.7 9.5 .500 0.1 0.1 1.000 2.2 3.3 .667
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2012-131966-67
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Roy Hibbert 79 28.7 11.9 3.7 4.6 8.3 1.4 0.5 2.6 2.1 3.5 4.9 10.9 .448 0.0 0.1 .250 2.1 2.8 .741
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 %
Roy Hibbert 19 36.5 17.0 4.7 5.2 9.9 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.3 3.9 6.3 12.4 .511 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 5.4 .806
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2013-141967-68
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Roy Hibbert 81 29.7 10.8 2.5 4.1 6.6 1.1 0.4 2.2 1.8 3.3 4.1 9.3 .439 0.0 0.1 .400 2.6 3.3 .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 %
Roy Hibbert 19 28.5 9.3 2.3 3.2 5.5 0.9 0.2 1.4 1.3 3.3 3.5 7.7 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.0 .772
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2014-151968-69
Team Indiana PacersBoston 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 %
Roy Hibbert 76 25.3 10.6 2.1 5.1 7.1 1.1 0.2 1.6 1.4 2.8 4.2 9.3 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.7 .824
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2015-161969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston 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 %
Roy Hibbert 81 23.2 5.9 1.6 3.3 4.9 1.2 0.4 1.4 0.9 3.1 2.2 5.1 .443 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 1.8 .807
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Roy Hibbert Don Nelson
Season 2016-171970-71
Team Charlotte Hornets, Denver NuggetsBoston 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 %
Roy Hibbert 48 14.2 4.6 1.1 2.0 3.2 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.7 2.1 1.7 3.1 .544 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.6 .813
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Roy Hibbert 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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert 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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert 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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert 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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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

Roy Hibbert 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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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 %
Roy Hibbert ------- --- ----------
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