Serge Ibaka vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Serge Ibaka, 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.

Serge Ibaka and Don Nelson both played 14 years in the NBA. Serge Ibaka had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, 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
Serge Ibaka 14 12 2009-10 to 2022-23
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2009-101962-63
Team Oklahoma City ThunderChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 73 18.1 6.3 1.9 3.5 5.4 0.1 0.3 1.3 0.9 2.7 2.8 5.1 .543 0.0 0.0 .500 0.8 1.3 .630
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 %
Serge Ibaka 6 25.5 7.8 2.2 4.3 6.5 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.0 3.2 3.3 5.8 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .700
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2010-111963-64
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 %
Serge Ibaka 82 27.0 9.9 2.6 5.0 7.6 0.3 0.4 2.4 0.9 3.3 4.1 7.5 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.2 .750
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 %
Serge Ibaka 17 28.8 9.8 2.8 4.5 7.3 0.2 0.2 3.1 1.2 3.8 3.9 8.5 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .825
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2011-121964-65
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA 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 %
Serge Ibaka 66 27.2 9.1 2.9 4.6 7.5 0.4 0.5 3.7 1.2 2.7 4.0 7.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .333 1.2 1.8 .661
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 %
Serge Ibaka 20 28.5 9.8 2.4 3.4 5.8 0.6 0.6 3.0 0.6 2.9 4.2 8.0 .528 0.1 0.2 .250 1.3 1.8 .722
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2012-131965-66
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 80 31.1 13.2 2.8 4.9 7.7 0.5 0.4 3.0 1.6 2.7 5.6 9.7 .573 0.3 0.7 .351 1.8 2.4 .749
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 %
Serge Ibaka 11 33.3 12.8 3.5 4.8 8.4 0.7 0.0 3.0 0.6 3.5 5.4 12.3 .437 0.4 0.8 .444 1.7 2.2 .792
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2013-141966-67
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 %
Serge Ibaka 81 32.9 15.1 2.8 6.0 8.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 1.5 2.9 6.5 12.1 .536 0.3 0.7 .383 1.9 2.5 .784
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 %
Serge Ibaka 17 34.2 12.1 1.8 5.0 6.8 0.7 0.6 2.5 1.2 3.2 5.1 8.6 .592 0.3 0.8 .385 1.5 2.0 .765
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2014-151967-68
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston 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 %
Serge Ibaka 64 33.1 14.3 2.1 5.7 7.8 0.9 0.5 2.4 1.5 3.0 5.8 12.3 .476 1.2 3.2 .376 1.4 1.7 .836
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 %
Serge Ibaka ------- --- ----------
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2015-161968-69
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 %
Serge Ibaka 78 32.1 12.6 1.8 5.0 6.8 0.8 0.5 1.9 1.4 2.7 5.3 11.1 .479 0.8 2.4 .326 1.2 1.6 .752
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 %
Serge Ibaka 18 33.4 12.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.5 2.8 4.7 9.1 .521 1.7 3.8 .449 0.8 1.1 .750
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2016-171969-70
Team Orlando Magic, Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Serge Ibaka 79 30.7 14.8 1.6 5.2 6.8 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.3 2.7 6.0 12.4 .480 1.6 4.0 .391 1.4 1.6 .856
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 %
Serge Ibaka 10 30.7 14.3 0.9 5.6 6.5 1.4 0.4 1.7 1.1 3.7 6.0 13.0 .462 1.2 3.8 .316 1.1 1.3 .846
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2017-181970-71
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Serge Ibaka 76 27.5 12.6 1.0 5.3 6.3 0.8 0.4 1.3 1.2 2.8 5.0 10.3 .483 1.4 3.9 .360 1.2 1.6 .797
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 %
Serge Ibaka 10 26.0 8.7 1.3 4.6 5.9 1.1 0.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 3.0 7.2 .417 0.9 2.4 .375 1.8 2.2 .818
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2018-191971-72
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Serge Ibaka 74 27.2 15.0 2.1 6.0 8.1 1.3 0.4 1.4 1.5 2.9 6.3 11.9 .529 0.7 2.3 .290 1.8 2.4 .763
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 %
Serge Ibaka 24 20.8 9.4 1.5 4.5 6.0 0.9 0.5 1.0 1.0 3.3 3.8 8.0 .477 0.4 1.6 .237 1.3 1.8 .762
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2019-201972-73
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Serge Ibaka 55 27.0 15.4 2.1 6.1 8.2 1.4 0.5 0.8 2.0 2.8 6.2 12.2 .512 1.3 3.3 .385 1.6 2.3 .718
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 %
Serge Ibaka 11 22.8 14.8 1.5 6.2 7.7 1.2 0.2 1.3 1.1 2.5 5.7 10.0 .573 2.1 4.1 .511 1.3 1.3 1.000
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2020-211973-74
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West 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 %
Serge Ibaka 41 23.3 11.1 1.8 4.9 6.7 1.8 0.2 1.1 1.1 1.9 4.5 8.9 .510 1.0 2.8 .339 1.0 1.3 .811
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 %
Serge Ibaka 2 9.0 5.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.5 3.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2021-221974-75
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Serge Ibaka 54 16.3 6.8 1.1 3.5 4.6 0.9 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.7 5.5 .500 0.7 1.8 .374 0.6 0.8 .727
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 %
Serge Ibaka 6 3.7 1.5 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.5 .000 0.2 0.3 .500
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

Serge Ibaka Don Nelson
Season 2022-231975-76
Team 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 %
Serge Ibaka 16 11.6 4.1 0.9 1.8 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.6 3.4 .481 0.4 1.1 .333 0.5 0.8 .615
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 %
Serge Ibaka ------- --- ----------
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