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Don Nelson

Donald Arvid Nelson (Don, Nellie)

Position: Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
Height: 6-6 ▪ Weight: 210 lbs.
Born: May 15, 1940 in Muskegon, Michigan
High School: Rock Island in Rock Island, Illinois
College: University of Iowa
Draft: Chicago Zephyrs, 3rd round (1st pick, 17th overall), 1962 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 16, 1962
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Coach in 2012 (Full List)
As Coach: 31 Yrs, 1335-1063, .557 W-L% (Full Record)
As Executive: MIL/GSW/DAL franchises, 1977-2002 (Full Record)

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Elo Fan Ratings

Fine Details ▪ Last updated May 23, 2013 8:17 AM
All-Time Rank: #307. Wayne Embry… #308. Nene Hilario… #309. Joe Barry Carroll… #310. DON NELSON… #311. Larry Costello… #312. Charlie Scott… #313. Avery Johnson… 

Totals

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1962-63 22 CHZ NBA SF 62 1071 129 293 .440 161 221 .729 279 72 136 419
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 80 1406 135 323 .418 149 201 .741 323 76 181 419
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 39 238 36 85 .424 20 26 .769 73 24 40 92
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 75 1765 271 618 .439 223 326 .684 403 79 187 765
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 79 1202 227 509 .446 141 190 .742 295 65 143 595
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 82 1498 312 632 .494 195 268 .728 431 103 178 819
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 82 1773 374 771 .485 201 259 .776 458 92 198 949
1969-70 29 BOS NBA PF 82 2224 461 920 .501 337 435 .775 601 148 238 1259
1970-71 30 BOS NBA SF 82 2254 412 881 .468 317 426 .744 565 153 232 1141
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 82 2086 389 811 .480 356 452 .788 453 192 220 1134
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 72 1425 309 649 .476 159 188 .846 315 102 155 777
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 82 1748 364 717 .508 215 273 .788 90 255 345 162 19 13 189 943
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 79 2052 423 785 .539 263 318 .827 127 342 469 181 32 15 239 1109
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 75 943 175 379 .462 127 161 .789 56 126 182 77 14 7 115 477
Career NBA 1053 21685 4017 8373 .480 2864 3744 .765 273 723 5192 1526 65 35 2451 10898

Per Game

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1962-63 22 CHZ NBA SF 62 17.3 2.1 4.7 .440 2.6 3.6 .729 4.5 1.2 2.2 6.8
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 80 17.6 1.7 4.0 .418 1.9 2.5 .741 4.0 1.0 2.3 5.2
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 39 6.1 0.9 2.2 .424 0.5 0.7 .769 1.9 0.6 1.0 2.4
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 75 23.5 3.6 8.2 .439 3.0 4.3 .684 5.4 1.1 2.5 10.2
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 79 15.2 2.9 6.4 .446 1.8 2.4 .742 3.7 0.8 1.8 7.5
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 82 18.3 3.8 7.7 .494 2.4 3.3 .728 5.3 1.3 2.2 10.0
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 82 21.6 4.6 9.4 .485 2.5 3.2 .776 5.6 1.1 2.4 11.6
1969-70 29 BOS NBA PF 82 27.1 5.6 11.2 .501 4.1 5.3 .775 7.3 1.8 2.9 15.4
1970-71 30 BOS NBA SF 82 27.5 5.0 10.7 .468 3.9 5.2 .744 6.9 1.9 2.8 13.9
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 82 25.4 4.7 9.9 .480 4.3 5.5 .788 5.5 2.3 2.7 13.8
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 72 19.8 4.3 9.0 .476 2.2 2.6 .846 4.4 1.4 2.2 10.8
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 82 21.3 4.4 8.7 .508 2.6 3.3 .788 1.1 3.1 4.2 2.0 0.2 0.2 2.3 11.5
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 79 26.0 5.4 9.9 .539 3.3 4.0 .827 1.6 4.3 5.9 2.3 0.4 0.2 3.0 14.0
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 75 12.6 2.3 5.1 .462 1.7 2.1 .789 0.7 1.7 2.4 1.0 0.2 0.1 1.5 6.4
Career NBA 1053 20.6 3.8 8.0 .480 2.7 3.6 .765 1.2 3.1 4.9 1.4 0.3 0.1 2.3 10.3

Per 36 Minutes

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1962-63 22 CHZ NBA SF 62 1071 4.3 9.8 .440 5.4 7.4 .729 9.4 2.4 4.6 14.1
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 80 1406 3.5 8.3 .418 3.8 5.1 .741 8.3 1.9 4.6 10.7
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 39 238 5.4 12.9 .424 3.0 3.9 .769 11.0 3.6 6.1 13.9
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 75 1765 5.5 12.6 .439 4.5 6.6 .684 8.2 1.6 3.8 15.6
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 79 1202 6.8 15.2 .446 4.2 5.7 .742 8.8 1.9 4.3 17.8
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 82 1498 7.5 15.2 .494 4.7 6.4 .728 10.4 2.5 4.3 19.7
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 82 1773 7.6 15.7 .485 4.1 5.3 .776 9.3 1.9 4.0 19.3
1969-70 29 BOS NBA PF 82 2224 7.5 14.9 .501 5.5 7.0 .775 9.7 2.4 3.9 20.4
1970-71 30 BOS NBA SF 82 2254 6.6 14.1 .468 5.1 6.8 .744 9.0 2.4 3.7 18.2
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 82 2086 6.7 14.0 .480 6.1 7.8 .788 7.8 3.3 3.8 19.6
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 72 1425 7.8 16.4 .476 4.0 4.7 .846 8.0 2.6 3.9 19.6
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 82 1748 7.5 14.8 .508 4.4 5.6 .788 1.9 5.3 7.1 3.3 0.4 0.3 3.9 19.4
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 79 2052 7.4 13.8 .539 4.6 5.6 .827 2.2 6.0 8.2 3.2 0.6 0.3 4.2 19.5
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 75 943 6.7 14.5 .462 4.8 6.1 .789 2.1 4.8 6.9 2.9 0.5 0.3 4.4 18.2
Career NBA 1053 21685 6.7 13.9 .480 4.8 6.2 .765 2.1 5.5 8.6 2.5 0.5 0.3 4.1 18.1

Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1962-63 22 CHZ NBA SF 62 1071 13.8 .537 .440 1.8 0.3 2.1 .094
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 80 1406 10.6 .509 .418 1.5 0.8 2.3 .080
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 39 238 14.0 .477 .424 14.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 .080
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 75 1765 13.3 .502 .439 5.9 2.3 3.1 5.4 .146
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 79 1202 14.3 .502 .446 7.1 1.5 1.8 3.3 .131
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 82 1498 18.2 .546 .494 9.5 3.6 2.6 6.1 .197
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 82 1773 17.5 .536 .485 7.5 4.2 3.3 7.5 .203
1969-70 29 BOS NBA PF 82 2224 18.5 .566 .501 9.3 5.7 2.6 8.3 .180
1970-71 30 BOS NBA SF 82 2254 15.9 .534 .468 10.8 8.7 4.2 3.2 7.4 .157
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 82 2086 17.7 .561 .480 9.9 11.8 5.4 3.4 8.8 .202
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 72 1425 16.8 .531 .476 10.0 9.6 3.0 2.8 5.8 .194
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 82 1748 16.1 .563 .508 5.1 13.7 9.5 13.1 0.5 0.4 97 4.0 1.9 5.9 .162
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 79 2052 18.1 .600 .539 6.2 16.4 11.4 12.6 0.7 0.4 96 6.2 2.5 8.7 .204
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 75 943 15.1 .530 .462 5.8 13.2 9.5 11.5 0.7 0.4 99 1.7 0.9 2.6 .134
Career NBA 1053 21685 16.1 .544 .480 5.7 14.8 10.3 9.8 0.6 0.4 97 45.1 29.5 74.6 .165

Playoffs Totals

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 5 56 7 13 .538 3 3 1.000 13 2 11 17
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 11 212 24 53 .453 19 25 .760 59 19 31 67
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 17 316 50 118 .424 42 52 .808 85 13 50 142
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 9 142 27 59 .458 10 17 .588 42 9 12 64
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 19 468 91 175 .520 55 74 .743 143 32 49 237
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 18 348 87 168 .518 50 60 .833 83 21 51 224
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 11 308 52 99 .525 41 48 .854 61 21 30 145
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 13 303 47 101 .465 49 56 .875 38 15 29 143
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 18 467 82 164 .500 41 53 .774 25 72 97 35 8 3 54 205
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 11 274 66 117 .564 37 41 .902 18 27 45 26 2 2 36 169
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 18 315 52 108 .481 60 69 .870 17 36 53 17 3 2 46 164
Career NBA 150 3209 585 1175 .498 407 498 .817 60 135 719 210 13 7 399 1577

Playoffs Per Game

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 5 11.2 1.4 2.6 .538 0.6 0.6 1.000 2.6 0.4 2.2 3.4
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 11 19.3 2.2 4.8 .453 1.7 2.3 .760 5.4 1.7 2.8 6.1
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 17 18.6 2.9 6.9 .424 2.5 3.1 .808 5.0 0.8 2.9 8.4
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 9 15.8 3.0 6.6 .458 1.1 1.9 .588 4.7 1.0 1.3 7.1
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 19 24.6 4.8 9.2 .520 2.9 3.9 .743 7.5 1.7 2.6 12.5
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 18 19.3 4.8 9.3 .518 2.8 3.3 .833 4.6 1.2 2.8 12.4
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 11 28.0 4.7 9.0 .525 3.7 4.4 .854 5.5 1.9 2.7 13.2
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 13 23.3 3.6 7.8 .465 3.8 4.3 .875 2.9 1.2 2.2 11.0
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 18 25.9 4.6 9.1 .500 2.3 2.9 .774 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.9 0.4 0.2 3.0 11.4
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 11 24.9 6.0 10.6 .564 3.4 3.7 .902 1.6 2.5 4.1 2.4 0.2 0.2 3.3 15.4
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 18 17.5 2.9 6.0 .481 3.3 3.8 .870 0.9 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.2 0.1 2.6 9.1
Career NBA 150 21.4 3.9 7.8 .498 2.7 3.3 .817 1.3 2.9 4.8 1.4 0.3 0.1 2.7 10.5

Playoffs Per 36 Minutes

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 5 56 4.5 8.4 .538 1.9 1.9 1.000 8.4 1.3 7.1 10.9
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 11 212 4.1 9.0 .453 3.2 4.2 .760 10.0 3.2 5.3 11.4
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 17 316 5.7 13.4 .424 4.8 5.9 .808 9.7 1.5 5.7 16.2
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 9 142 6.8 15.0 .458 2.5 4.3 .588 10.6 2.3 3.0 16.2
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 19 468 7.0 13.5 .520 4.2 5.7 .743 11.0 2.5 3.8 18.2
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 18 348 9.0 17.4 .518 5.2 6.2 .833 8.6 2.2 5.3 23.2
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 11 308 6.1 11.6 .525 4.8 5.6 .854 7.1 2.5 3.5 16.9
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 13 303 5.6 12.0 .465 5.8 6.7 .875 4.5 1.8 3.4 17.0
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 18 467 6.3 12.6 .500 3.2 4.1 .774 1.9 5.6 7.5 2.7 0.6 0.2 4.2 15.8
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 11 274 8.7 15.4 .564 4.9 5.4 .902 2.4 3.5 5.9 3.4 0.3 0.3 4.7 22.2
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 18 315 5.9 12.3 .481 6.9 7.9 .870 1.9 4.1 6.1 1.9 0.3 0.2 5.3 18.7
Career NBA 150 3209 6.6 13.2 .498 4.6 5.6 .817 2.0 4.6 8.1 2.4 0.4 0.2 4.5 17.7

Playoffs Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1963-64 23 LAL NBA SF 5 56 11.1 .594 .538 5.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 .083
1964-65 24 LAL NBA SF 11 212 12.1 .523 .453 11.8 0.3 0.0 0.2 .056
1965-66 25 BOS NBA SF 17 316 13.2 .504 .424 5.6 0.3 0.5 0.8 .127
1966-67 26 BOS NBA SF 9 142 14.5 .481 .458 8.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 .103
1967-68 27 BOS NBA SF 19 468 18.5 .571 .520 9.5 1.3 0.6 1.9 .191
1968-69 28 BOS NBA SF 18 348 21.6 .576 .518 9.7 1.5 0.3 1.8 .250
1971-72 31 BOS NBA PF 11 308 16.5 .604 .525 9.6 9.1 1.0 0.1 1.1 .169
1972-73 32 BOS NBA SF 13 303 14.6 .569 .465 6.3 6.5 0.8 0.2 1.0 .164
1973-74 33 BOS NBA SF 18 467 15.0 .547 .500 5.7 16.1 11.0 10.9 0.8 0.3 94 0.9 0.7 1.6 .160
1974-75 34 BOS NBA SF 11 274 19.9 .626 .564 6.4 11.3 8.7 14.0 0.3 0.4 105 1.2 0.0 1.2 .209
1975-76 35 BOS NBA SF 18 315 16.0 .593 .481 5.8 12.1 9.0 8.4 0.5 0.4 97 0.8 0.4 1.2 .186
Career NBA 150 3209 16.4 .566 .498 5.9 13.7 9.1 9.3 0.6 0.4 98 8.4 2.9 11.3 .168

Similarity Scores

Explanation ▪ Players with careers of similar quality and shape (thru 2012-13)
Thru 14 Years Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Don Nelson 8.8 8.7 8.3 7.5 7.4 6.1 5.9 5.8 5.4 3.3 2.6 2.3 2.1 0.4
Hot Rod Williams 93.2 9.2 8.7 7.7 7.5 7.4 5.7 5.3 5.3 4.5 3.7 2.8 2.4 0.4
Mark Aguirre 90.6 9.0 8.9 8.8 7.2 6.9 5.7 5.5 4.7 4.5 2.2 1.9 1.8 0.9
Antawn Jamison 90.6 9.2 9.0 8.5 8.2 8.1 6.8 6.7 6.4 5.8 5.4 3.1 2.6 2.3 1.4
Clifford Robinson 90.0 9.6 8.7 8.0 7.5 7.1 6.8 6.6 5.4 5.3 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.2 0.3
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 89.9 9.7 8.8 8.5 8.1 7.2 6.9 6.2 5.4 4.6 2.9 2.8 0.0
Ricky Pierce 89.3 9.4 8.3 7.9 7.8 7.7 6.7 5.8 4.0 3.1 3.0 2.2 1.8 1.5 -0.1
Shane Battier 89.3 9.1 9.0 8.2 7.8 6.2 5.9 5.2 5.1 4.8 4.4 4.3 3.3
Jamaal Wilkes 89.1 10.0 8.5 8.3 7.7 7.4 7.3 6.9 6.0 5.1 3.3 0.9 0.0
Michael Cage 89.0 8.1 7.6 7.2 6.8 6.7 6.7 6.2 5.8 4.9 4.3 3.2 2.5 2.0 1.7
Bernard King 88.9 12.1 9.1 8.7 7.5 7.1 6.5 5.9 5.5 4.9 3.5 2.8 1.2 0.4 0.0
Career Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Don Nelson 8.8 8.7 8.3 7.5 7.4 6.1 5.9 5.8 5.4 3.3 2.6 2.3 2.1 0.4
Hot Rod Williams 93.2 9.2 8.7 7.7 7.5 7.4 5.7 5.3 5.3 4.5 3.7 2.8 2.4 0.4
Mark Aguirre 90.6 9.0 8.9 8.8 7.2 6.9 5.7 5.5 4.7 4.5 2.2 1.9 1.8 0.9
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 89.9 9.7 8.8 8.5 8.1 7.2 6.9 6.2 5.4 4.6 2.9 2.8 0.0
Ricky Pierce 89.7 9.4 8.3 7.9 7.8 7.7 6.7 5.8 4.0 3.1 3.0 2.7 2.2 1.8 1.5 0.3 -0.1
Shane Battier 89.3 9.1 9.0 8.2 7.8 6.2 5.9 5.2 5.1 4.8 4.4 4.3 3.3
Jamaal Wilkes 89.1 10.0 8.5 8.3 7.7 7.4 7.3 6.9 6.0 5.1 3.3 0.9 0.0
Bernard King 88.9 12.1 9.1 8.7 7.5 7.1 6.5 5.9 5.5 4.9 3.5 2.8 1.2 0.4 0.0
Michael Cage 88.6 8.1 7.6 7.2 6.8 6.7 6.7 6.2 5.8 4.9 4.3 3.2 2.5 2.0 1.7 0.7
Lamar Odom 88.3 10.1 9.7 9.2 8.4 7.7 6.9 6.5 4.7 4.7 3.2 2.7 2.2 0.7 0.3
Antawn Jamison 88.0 9.2 9.0 8.5 8.2 8.1 6.8 6.7 6.4 5.8 5.4 4.3 3.1 2.6 2.3 1.4

College

Light text indicates college freshman or JV participant
Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age College G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1959-60 19 IOWA 24 140 320 100 155 241 380 .438 .645 15.8 10.0
1960-61 20 IOWA 24 197 377 176 268 258 570 .523 .657 23.8 10.8
1961-62 21 IOWA 24 193 348 186 264 285 572 .555 .705 23.8 11.9
Career 72 530 1045 462 687 784 1522 .507 .672 21.1 10.9

Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

Honors
1961-62 NCAA AP All-America (3rd)
Championships
(Minimum 1 playoff game)
1966 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1968 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1969 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1974 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1976 Boston Celtics (NBA)
Games
1963-64 NBA 80 (2)
1967-68 NBA 82 (2)
1968-69 NBA 82 (6)
1969-70 NBA 82 (1)
 1970-71 NBA 82 (2)
1971-72 NBA 82 (2)
1973-74 NBA 82 (1)
 Career NBA 1053 (83)
Career 1053 (88)
Field Goal Pct
1967-68 NBA .494 (9)
1973-74 NBA .508 (7)
1974-75 NBA .539 (1)
True Shooting Pct
1969-70 NBA .566 (10)
1973-74 NBA .563 (8)
1974-75 NBA .600 (1)
Effective Field Goal Pct
1967-68 NBA .494 (9)
1973-74 NBA .508 (7)
1974-75 NBA .539 (1)
Offensive Win Shares
1974-75 NBA 6.2 (9)
Win Shares Per 48 Minutes
1968-69 NBA .203 (5)
1969-70 NBA .180 (6)
1971-72 NBA .202 (7)
1973-74 NBA .162 (10)
1974-75 NBA .204 (4)
Career NBA .165 (58)
Career .165 (60)
Hall of Fame Probability
Career 0.042 (213)
NBA Elo Player Rating
311th (overall) as of May 23, 2013, 5:06AM
    

Transactions

March 26, 1962: Drafted by the Chicago Packers in the 3rd round (19th pick) of the 1962 NBA Draft.

September 6, 1963: Claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers from the Chicago Zephyrs

October 28, 1965: Signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics.

Links

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