Stephen Curry vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Stephen Curry, 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.

Stephen Curry played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Don Nelson, who played 14. Stephen Curry 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
Stephen Curry 15 9 2009-10 to 2023-24
Don Nelson 14 11 1962-63 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2009-101962-63
Team Golden State WarriorsChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Stephen Curry 80 36.2 17.5 0.6 3.9 4.5 5.9 1.9 0.2 3.0 3.2 6.6 14.3 .462 2.1 4.8 .437 2.2 2.5 .885
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2010-111963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsLos 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 %
Stephen Curry 74 33.6 18.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.8 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.1 6.8 14.2 .480 2.0 4.6 .442 2.9 3.1 .934
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2011-121964-65
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 %
Stephen Curry 26 28.2 14.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 5.3 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.4 5.6 11.4 .490 2.1 4.7 .455 1.5 1.8 .809
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2012-131965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Stephen Curry 78 38.2 22.9 0.8 3.3 4.0 6.9 1.6 0.2 3.1 2.5 8.0 17.8 .451 3.5 7.7 .453 3.4 3.7 .900
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 %
Stephen Curry 12 41.4 23.4 0.4 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.9 8.5 19.6 .434 3.5 8.8 .396 2.9 3.2 .921
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2013-141966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Stephen Curry 78 36.5 24.0 0.6 3.7 4.3 8.5 1.6 0.2 3.8 2.5 8.4 17.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .424 3.9 4.5 .885
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 %
Stephen Curry 7 42.3 23.0 0.6 3.0 3.6 8.4 1.7 0.1 3.7 2.6 7.3 16.6 .440 3.1 8.1 .386 5.3 6.0 .881
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2014-151967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry 80 32.7 23.8 0.7 3.6 4.3 7.7 2.0 0.2 3.1 2.0 8.2 16.8 .487 3.6 8.1 .443 3.9 4.2 .914
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 %
Stephen Curry 21 39.3 28.3 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.4 1.9 0.1 3.9 2.2 9.5 20.9 .456 4.7 11.0 .422 4.6 5.5 .835
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2015-161968-69
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Stephen Curry 79 34.2 30.1 0.9 4.6 5.4 6.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.0 10.2 20.2 .504 5.1 11.2 .454 4.6 5.1 .908
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 %
Stephen Curry 18 34.1 25.1 0.8 4.7 5.5 5.2 1.4 0.3 4.2 2.2 8.2 18.8 .438 4.4 11.0 .404 4.2 4.6 .916
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2016-171969-70
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Stephen Curry 79 33.4 25.3 0.8 3.7 4.5 6.6 1.8 0.2 3.0 2.3 8.5 18.3 .468 4.1 10.0 .411 4.1 4.6 .898
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 %
Stephen Curry 17 35.4 28.1 1.3 4.9 6.2 6.7 2.0 0.2 3.4 2.2 8.9 18.4 .484 4.2 10.1 .419 6.1 6.7 .904
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2017-181970-71
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
Stephen Curry 51 32.0 26.4 0.7 4.4 5.1 6.1 1.6 0.2 3.0 2.2 8.4 16.9 .495 4.2 9.8 .423 5.5 5.9 .921
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 %
Stephen Curry 15 37.0 25.5 0.6 5.5 6.1 5.4 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.5 9.1 20.3 .451 4.3 10.8 .395 3.0 3.1 .957
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2018-191971-72
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA 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 %
Stephen Curry 69 33.8 27.3 0.7 4.7 5.3 5.2 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.4 9.2 19.4 .472 5.1 11.7 .437 3.8 4.2 .916
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 %
Stephen Curry 22 38.5 28.2 0.8 5.2 6.0 5.7 1.1 0.2 3.0 3.1 8.6 19.6 .441 4.2 11.1 .377 6.7 7.1 .943
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2019-201972-73
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Stephen Curry 5 27.8 20.8 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.6 1.0 0.4 3.2 2.2 6.6 16.4 .402 2.4 9.8 .245 5.2 5.2 1.000
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2020-211973-74
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Stephen Curry 63 34.2 32.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 5.8 1.2 0.1 3.4 1.9 10.4 21.7 .482 5.3 12.7 .421 5.7 6.3 .916
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2021-221974-75
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Stephen Curry 64 34.5 25.5 0.5 4.7 5.2 6.3 1.3 0.4 3.2 2.0 8.4 19.1 .437 4.5 11.7 .380 4.3 4.7 .923
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 %
Stephen Curry 22 34.7 27.4 0.5 4.7 5.2 5.9 1.3 0.4 2.6 2.7 9.2 20.0 .459 4.1 10.4 .397 4.9 5.9 .829
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2022-231975-76
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Stephen Curry 56 34.7 29.4 0.7 5.4 6.1 6.3 0.9 0.4 3.2 2.1 10.0 20.2 .493 4.9 11.4 .427 4.6 5.0 .915
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 %
Stephen Curry 13 37.9 30.5 0.7 4.5 5.2 6.1 1.0 0.5 3.2 2.6 11.2 23.9 .466 4.4 12.1 .363 3.8 4.5 .845
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

Stephen Curry Don Nelson
Season 2023-24-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement Clutch Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Stephen Curry 74 32.7 26.4 0.5 4.0 4.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 2.8 1.6 8.8 19.5 .450 4.8 11.8 .408 4.0 4.4 .923
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------