Vince Carter vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Vince Carter, 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.

Vince Carter played 22 years in the NBA, 8 more than Don Nelson, who played 14. Vince Carter had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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
Vince Carter 22 11 1998-99 to 2019-20
Don Nelson 14 11 1962-63 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22

Rookie Season

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 1998-991962-63
Team Toronto RaptorsChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
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 %
Vince Carter 50 35.2 18.3 1.9 3.8 5.7 3.0 1.1 1.5 2.2 2.8 6.9 15.3 .450 0.4 1.3 .288 4.1 5.4 .761
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 1999-001963-64
Team Toronto RaptorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Vince Carter 82 38.1 25.7 1.8 4.0 5.8 3.9 1.3 1.1 2.2 3.2 9.6 20.7 .465 1.2 2.9 .403 5.3 6.7 .791
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 %
Vince Carter 3 39.7 19.3 3.0 3.0 6.0 6.3 1.0 1.3 2.7 4.0 5.0 16.7 .300 0.3 3.3 .100 9.0 10.3 .871
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2000-011964-65
Team Toronto RaptorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 75 39.7 27.6 2.3 3.2 5.5 3.9 1.5 1.1 2.2 2.7 10.2 22.1 .460 2.2 5.3 .408 5.1 6.7 .765
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 %
Vince Carter 12 45.1 27.3 3.1 3.4 6.5 4.7 1.7 1.7 2.3 3.8 10.2 23.3 .436 2.1 5.1 .410 4.8 6.2 .784
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2001-021965-66
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Vince Carter 60 39.8 24.7 2.3 2.9 5.2 4.0 1.6 0.7 2.6 3.2 9.3 21.8 .428 2.0 5.2 .387 4.1 5.1 .798
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2002-031966-67
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Vince Carter 43 34.2 20.6 1.4 3.0 4.4 3.3 1.1 1.0 1.7 2.8 8.3 17.7 .467 1.0 3.0 .344 3.0 3.7 .806
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2003-041967-68
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Vince Carter 73 38.2 22.5 1.3 3.5 4.8 4.8 1.2 0.9 3.1 2.9 8.3 20.0 .417 1.3 3.3 .383 4.6 5.7 .806
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2004-051968-69
Team Toronto Raptors, New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Vince Carter 77 36.7 24.5 1.4 3.8 5.2 4.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 3.2 9.0 20.0 .452 1.6 4.1 .406 4.8 6.0 .798
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 %
Vince Carter 4 45.3 26.8 2.3 6.3 8.5 5.8 2.3 0.0 3.8 4.3 8.8 24.0 .365 1.5 4.8 .316 7.8 9.0 .861
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2005-061969-70
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Vince Carter 79 36.8 24.2 1.7 4.1 5.8 4.3 1.2 0.7 2.7 3.0 8.3 19.2 .430 1.6 4.6 .341 6.1 7.6 .799
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 %
Vince Carter 11 40.9 29.6 1.5 5.5 7.0 5.3 1.8 0.5 2.4 3.1 10.3 22.2 .463 1.3 5.3 .241 7.8 9.8 .796
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2006-071970-71
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Vince Carter 82 38.1 25.2 1.4 4.6 6.0 4.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 3.2 8.9 19.5 .454 1.9 5.3 .357 5.6 7.0 .802
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 %
Vince Carter 12 40.6 22.3 1.4 5.4 6.8 5.3 0.9 0.6 3.2 2.9 7.8 19.6 .396 1.8 4.5 .389 5.1 7.3 .693
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2007-081971-72
Team New Jersey NetsBoston 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 %
Vince Carter 76 38.9 21.3 1.5 4.5 6.0 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 3.2 7.7 16.9 .456 1.3 3.6 .359 4.6 5.6 .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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2008-091972-73
Team New Jersey NetsBoston 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 %
Vince Carter 80 36.8 20.8 0.9 4.2 5.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 2.1 2.9 7.4 16.8 .437 1.9 4.9 .385 4.2 5.1 .817
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2009-101973-74
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Vince Carter 75 30.8 16.6 0.4 3.5 3.9 3.1 0.7 0.2 1.4 2.5 5.8 13.5 .428 1.6 4.3 .367 3.4 4.1 .840
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 %
Vince Carter 14 34.3 15.5 0.6 3.6 4.2 2.3 0.9 0.2 1.6 3.6 5.3 13.1 .402 0.9 3.6 .235 4.1 4.9 .826
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2010-111974-75
Team Orlando Magic, Phoenix SunsBoston 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 %
Vince Carter 73 28.1 14.0 0.7 3.0 3.8 2.0 0.9 0.3 1.2 2.6 5.3 12.2 .437 1.6 4.4 .361 1.8 2.4 .740
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 %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2011-121975-76
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Vince Carter 61 25.3 10.1 0.5 2.8 3.4 2.3 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.2 3.7 8.9 .411 1.2 3.4 .361 1.6 1.9 .826
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 %
Vince Carter 4 26.8 8.3 1.3 4.3 5.5 0.3 1.3 0.5 1.5 2.8 3.0 10.3 .293 0.8 2.5 .300 1.5 2.0 .750
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

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2012-13-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vince Carter 81 25.8 13.4 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.4 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.8 4.6 10.6 .435 2.0 4.9 .406 2.2 2.8 .816
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2013-14-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 81 24.4 11.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 2.6 0.8 0.4 1.3 2.6 4.1 10.0 .407 1.8 4.6 .394 2.0 2.4 .821
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 7 27.1 12.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 2.4 0.4 0.3 0.9 1.7 4.4 9.7 .456 2.1 4.4 .484 1.6 2.0 .786
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2014-15-
Team Memphis Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 66 16.5 5.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 1.2 0.7 0.2 0.7 1.5 2.0 6.2 .333 1.0 3.5 .297 0.7 0.9 .789
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 11 17.8 6.3 1.2 3.1 4.3 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.6 1.5 2.5 6.1 .403 0.6 2.5 .250 0.7 0.8 .889
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2015-16-
Team Memphis Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 60 16.8 6.6 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2 5.7 .388 1.0 2.8 .349 1.2 1.4 .833
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 4 22.8 11.3 1.3 2.5 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.3 3.8 8.3 .455 1.8 2.5 .700 2.0 2.0 1.000
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2016-17-
Team Memphis Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 73 24.6 8.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 1.8 0.8 0.5 0.7 2.2 2.6 6.7 .394 1.5 4.1 .378 1.2 1.6 .765
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter 6 32.5 9.2 0.7 2.7 3.3 1.5 0.3 0.0 1.7 2.5 3.3 7.0 .476 1.3 3.3 .400 1.2 1.2 1.000
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2017-18-
Team Sacramento Kings-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vince Carter 58 17.7 5.4 0.3 2.2 2.6 1.2 0.7 0.4 0.6 1.7 2.0 4.9 .403 1.0 2.8 .345 0.5 0.6 .757
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 21

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2018-19-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vince Carter 76 17.5 7.4 0.4 2.1 2.6 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.6 1.9 2.6 6.2 .419 1.6 4.2 .389 0.6 0.9 .712
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 22

Vince Carter Don Nelson
Season 2019-20-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vince Carter 60 14.6 5.0 0.3 1.8 2.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.5 1.8 5.1 .352 1.0 3.4 .302 0.4 0.5 .793
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vince Carter ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------