Walt Frazier vs. Don Nelson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Nelson and Walt Frazier, 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.

Walt Frazier played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Don Nelson, who played 14. Walt Frazier had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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
Walt Frazier 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1967-681962-63
Team New York KnicksChicago Zephyrs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 74 21.5 9.0 - - 4.2 4.1 - - - 2.7 3.5 7.7 .451 - - - 2.1 3.2 .655
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 %
Walt Frazier 4 29.8 9.5 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.0 3.0 8.3 .364 - - - 3.5 4.5 .778
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1968-691963-64
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div 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 %
Walt Frazier 80 36.9 17.5 - - 6.2 7.9 - - - 3.1 6.6 13.2 .505 - - - 4.3 5.7 .746
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 %
Walt Frazier 10 41.5 21.2 - - 7.4 9.1 - - - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .503 - - - 3.4 5.7 .596
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1969-701964-65
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 77 39.5 20.9 - - 6.0 8.2 - - - 2.6 7.8 15.0 .518 - - - 5.3 7.1 .748
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 %
Walt Frazier 19 43.9 16.0 - - 7.8 8.2 - - - 2.8 6.2 13.0 .478 - - - 3.6 4.7 .764
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1970-711965-66
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 80 43.2 21.7 - - 6.8 6.7 - - - 3.0 8.1 16.5 .494 - - - 5.4 7.0 .779
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 %
Walt Frazier 12 41.8 22.6 - - 5.8 4.5 - - - 3.8 9.0 17.0 .529 - - - 4.6 6.3 .733
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1971-721966-67
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA 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 %
Walt Frazier 77 40.6 23.2 - - 6.7 5.8 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.0 .512 - - - 5.8 7.2 .808
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 %
Walt Frazier 16 44.0 24.3 - - 7.0 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 17.3 .536 - - - 5.8 7.8 .736
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1972-731967-68
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive 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 %
Walt Frazier 78 40.8 21.1 - - 7.3 5.9 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.8 .490 - - - 3.7 4.5 .817
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 %
Walt Frazier 17 45.0 21.9 - - 7.3 6.2 - - - 3.1 8.8 17.2 .514 - - - 4.3 5.5 .777
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1973-741968-69
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 80 41.7 20.5 1.5 5.2 6.7 6.9 2.0 0.2 - 2.7 8.4 17.9 .472 - - - 3.7 4.4 .838
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 %
Walt Frazier 12 40.9 22.5 1.8 6.2 7.9 4.0 1.8 0.3 - 3.4 9.4 18.8 .502 - - - 3.7 4.1 .898
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1974-751969-70
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Walt Frazier 78 41.1 21.5 1.2 4.8 6.0 6.1 2.4 0.2 - 2.6 8.6 17.8 .483 - - - 4.2 5.1 .828
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 %
Walt Frazier 3 41.3 23.7 1.0 5.7 6.7 7.0 3.7 0.0 - 1.3 9.7 15.3 .630 - - - 4.3 5.3 .813
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1975-761970-71
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Walt Frazier 59 41.1 19.1 1.3 5.4 6.8 5.9 1.8 0.2 - 2.8 8.0 16.4 .485 - - - 3.2 3.8 .823
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
Don Nelson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1976-771971-72
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 76 35.4 17.4 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 1.7 0.1 - 2.6 7.0 14.3 .489 - - - 3.4 4.4 .771
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1977-781972-73
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 51 32.6 16.2 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.1 1.5 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.6 14.0 .471 - - - 3.0 3.5 .850
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1978-791973-74
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 12 23.3 10.8 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.8 1.8 4.5 10.2 .443 - - - 1.8 2.3 .778
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Don Nelson
Season 1979-801974-75
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 3 9.0 3.3 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 3.7 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier 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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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