Tiny Archibald vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Tiny Archibald, 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.

Tiny Archibald played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Tiny Archibald had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, 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
Tiny Archibald 13 5 1970-71 to 1983-84
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1970-711962-63
Team Cincinnati RoyalsChicago 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 %
Tiny Archibald 82 35.0 16.0 - - 3.0 5.5 - - - 2.7 5.9 13.4 .444 - - - 4.1 5.4 .757
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1971-721963-64
Team Cincinnati RoyalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 %
Tiny Archibald 76 43.1 28.2 - - 2.9 9.2 - - - 2.6 9.7 19.9 .486 - - - 8.9 10.8 .822
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1972-731964-65
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Tiny Archibald 80 46.0 34.0 - - 2.8 11.4 - - - 2.6 12.9 26.3 .488 - - - 8.3 9.8 .847
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1973-741965-66
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsBoston 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 %
Tiny Archibald 35 36.3 17.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 7.6 1.6 0.2 - 2.2 6.3 14.1 .451 - - - 4.9 6.0 .820
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1974-751966-67
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Tiny Archibald 82 39.6 26.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.8 1.5 0.1 - 2.3 9.3 20.3 .456 - - - 8.0 9.1 .872
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 %
Tiny Archibald 6 40.3 20.2 0.3 1.5 1.8 5.3 0.7 0.0 - 3.0 7.2 19.7 .364 - - - 5.8 7.2 .814
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1975-761967-68
Team Kansas City KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 %
Tiny Archibald 78 40.8 24.8 0.9 1.9 2.7 7.9 1.6 0.2 - 2.2 9.2 20.3 .453 - - - 6.4 8.0 .802
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1976-771968-69
Team New York NetsBoston 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 %
Tiny Archibald 34 37.6 20.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 7.5 1.7 0.3 - 2.3 7.4 16.5 .446 - - - 5.8 7.4 .785
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson 18 19.3 12.4 - - 4.6 1.2 - - - 2.8 4.8 9.3 .518 - - - 2.8 3.3 .833

Note: Tiny Archibald didn't play in 1977-78.

Season 8

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1978-791969-70
Team Boston CelticsBoston 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 %
Tiny Archibald 69 24.1 11.0 0.4 1.1 1.5 4.7 0.8 0.1 2.9 1.9 3.8 8.3 .452 - - - 3.5 4.4 .788
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1979-801970-71
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Tiny Archibald 80 35.8 14.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 8.4 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.7 4.8 9.9 .482 0.1 0.2 .222 4.5 5.4 .830
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 %
Tiny Archibald 9 36.9 14.2 0.3 0.9 1.2 7.9 1.1 0.0 4.2 3.1 5.0 9.9 .506 0.1 0.2 .500 4.1 4.7 .881
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1980-811971-72
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Tiny Archibald 80 35.3 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.2 7.7 0.9 0.2 3.3 2.5 4.8 9.6 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 5.2 .816
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 %
Tiny Archibald 17 37.1 15.6 0.4 1.3 1.6 6.3 0.8 0.0 2.9 2.3 5.6 12.4 .450 0.0 0.3 .000 4.5 5.5 .809
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1981-821972-73
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 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 %
Tiny Archibald 68 31.9 12.6 0.4 1.3 1.7 8.0 0.8 0.0 2.6 1.9 4.5 9.6 .472 0.1 0.2 .375 3.5 4.6 .747
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 %
Tiny Archibald 8 34.6 10.6 0.1 2.0 2.1 6.5 0.6 0.3 2.9 2.6 3.8 8.8 .429 0.0 0.5 .000 3.1 3.5 .893
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1982-831973-74
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Tiny Archibald 66 27.4 10.5 0.4 1.0 1.4 6.2 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.7 3.6 8.4 .425 0.1 0.4 .208 3.3 4.5 .743
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 %
Tiny Archibald 7 23.0 9.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 6.3 0.3 0.0 1.6 1.7 3.1 9.7 .324 0.1 0.9 .167 3.1 4.1 .759
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

Tiny Archibald Don Nelson
Season 1983-841974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston 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 %
Tiny Archibald 46 22.6 7.4 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.5 0.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 3.0 6.1 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 1.4 2.2 .634
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald 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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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 %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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