Adrian Dantley vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Adrian Dantley, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Adrian Dantley played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Adrian Dantley had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Kevin McHale had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Adrian Dantley 15 7 1976-77 to 1990-91
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1976-771980-81
Team Buffalo BravesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Adrian Dantley 77 36.6 20.3 3.3 4.4 7.6 1.9 1.2 0.2 - 2.8 7.1 13.6 .520 - - - 6.2 7.6 .818
Kevin McHale 82 20.1 10.0 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.3 3.2 4.3 8.1 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.9 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 17 17.4 8.5 1.7 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.2 1.5 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .639

Season 2

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1977-781981-82
Team Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Adrian Dantley 79 37.1 21.5 3.4 4.5 7.8 3.2 1.5 0.3 2.9 2.9 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 6.8 8.6 .796
Kevin McHale 82 28.4 13.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.1 0.4 2.3 1.7 3.2 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 3 34.7 17.0 3.0 5.3 8.3 3.7 1.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 6.7 11.7 .571 - - - 3.7 5.7 .647
Kevin McHale 12 28.7 16.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.3 3.7 6.4 11.2 .575 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.4 .755

Season 3

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1978-791982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 60 29.6 17.3 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.3 1.1 0.2 2.6 2.7 6.2 12.2 .510 - - - 4.9 5.7 .854
Kevin McHale 82 28.6 14.1 2.6 4.1 6.7 1.3 0.4 2.3 1.9 2.9 5.9 10.9 .541 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 8 29.5 17.6 1.3 2.9 4.1 1.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 3.0 6.3 11.1 .562 - - - 5.1 6.5 .788
Kevin McHale 7 25.3 11.1 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.3 4.9 8.9 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.6 .556

Season 4

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1979-801983-84
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Adrian Dantley 68 39.3 28.0 2.7 4.9 7.6 2.8 1.4 0.2 3.4 3.1 10.7 18.6 .576 0.0 0.0 .000 6.5 7.7 .842
Kevin McHale 82 31.4 18.4 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.0 7.2 12.9 .556 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.4 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 23 30.5 14.8 2.7 3.5 6.2 1.2 0.1 1.5 1.7 3.3 5.3 10.6 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.3 .777

Season 5

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 80 42.7 30.7 2.4 4.0 6.4 4.0 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.1 11.4 20.3 .559 0.0 0.1 .286 7.9 9.8 .806
Kevin McHale 79 33.6 19.8 2.9 6.1 9.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.0 3.0 7.7 13.4 .570 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.9 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 21 39.9 22.1 3.5 6.4 9.9 1.5 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 8.2 14.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 7.1 .807

Season 6

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Adrian Dantley 81 39.8 30.3 2.9 3.5 6.3 4.0 1.2 0.2 3.7 3.1 11.2 19.6 .570 0.0 0.0 .333 8.0 10.1 .792
Kevin McHale 68 35.3 21.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 2.7 0.4 2.0 2.2 2.8 8.3 14.4 .574 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.2 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 18 39.7 24.9 2.8 5.8 8.6 2.7 0.4 2.4 2.7 3.6 9.3 16.1 .579 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .794

Season 7

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 22 40.3 30.7 2.6 3.7 6.4 4.8 0.9 0.0 3.7 2.8 10.6 18.3 .580 0.0 0.0 - 9.5 11.3 .847
Kevin McHale 77 39.7 26.1 3.2 6.7 9.9 2.6 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.1 10.3 17.0 .604 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.6 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 21 39.4 21.1 3.1 6.1 9.2 1.9 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 8

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Adrian Dantley 79 37.8 30.6 2.3 3.4 5.7 3.9 0.8 0.1 3.3 2.5 10.2 18.2 .558 0.0 0.1 .250 10.3 12.0 .859
Kevin McHale 64 37.3 22.6 2.5 5.9 8.4 2.7 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.8 8.6 14.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 6.8 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 11 41.3 32.2 3.4 4.2 7.5 4.2 0.9 0.1 3.5 2.7 10.6 21.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 10.9 12.6 .863
Kevin McHale 17 42.1 25.4 3.2 4.8 8.0 2.4 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.8 9.3 15.4 .603 0.1 0.1 1.000 6.8 8.1 .839

Season 9

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 55 35.8 26.6 2.7 3.2 5.9 3.4 1.0 0.1 3.1 2.4 9.3 17.5 .531 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 9.9 .804
Kevin McHale 78 36.9 22.5 2.9 5.3 8.2 2.2 0.3 1.2 2.5 2.9 8.5 15.5 .546 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 10 39.8 25.3 2.5 5.0 7.5 2.0 1.6 0.0 3.6 3.9 7.9 15.1 .523 0.0 0.1 .000 9.5 12.2 .779
Kevin McHale 3 38.3 19.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 4.3 6.7 13.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.7 .739

Season 10

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 76 36.1 29.8 2.3 2.9 5.2 3.5 0.8 0.1 3.0 2.7 10.8 19.1 .563 0.0 0.1 .091 8.3 10.5 .791
Kevin McHale 82 33.2 20.9 2.5 5.8 8.3 2.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.0 7.9 14.4 .549 0.3 0.8 .333 4.8 5.4 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 5 38.4 22.0 1.6 6.2 7.8 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.8 3.4 8.4 13.8 .609 0.2 0.6 .333 5.0 5.8 .862

Season 11

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 81 33.8 21.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 2.0 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.9 .534 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.2 .812
Kevin McHale 68 30.4 18.4 2.1 4.9 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 2.1 2.9 7.4 13.4 .553 0.2 0.5 .405 3.4 4.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 15 33.3 20.5 1.9 2.6 4.5 2.3 0.9 0.0 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.7 .539 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.4 .775
Kevin McHale 11 34.2 20.7 1.6 4.9 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 1.3 3.8 7.1 13.5 .527 0.5 1.0 .545 6.0 7.3 .825

Season 12

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 69 31.1 20.0 1.2 2.1 3.3 2.5 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.1 6.4 12.5 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 7.1 8.3 .860
Kevin McHale 56 25.0 13.9 2.1 3.8 5.9 1.5 0.2 1.1 1.5 2.0 5.8 11.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.9 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 23 35.0 19.4 1.6 3.0 4.7 2.0 0.8 0.0 2.2 2.2 6.7 12.7 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 7.7 .787
Kevin McHale 10 30.6 16.5 2.1 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.4 6.5 12.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .795

Season 13

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Detroit Pistons, Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 73 33.2 19.2 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.3 0.6 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.4 13.1 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.8 .810
Kevin McHale 71 23.3 10.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 1.0 0.2 0.8 1.3 1.8 4.2 9.1 .459 0.0 0.3 .111 2.3 2.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 4 28.3 19.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.3 1.5 8.0 13.8 .582 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 14

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1989-90-
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 %
Adrian Dantley 45 28.9 14.7 1.7 2.1 3.8 1.8 0.4 0.2 1.7 2.2 5.1 10.8 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.6 .787
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Adrian Dantley Kevin McHale
Season 1990-91-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 10 12.6 5.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.8 1.9 5.0 .380 0.1 0.3 .333 1.8 2.6 .692
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 3 6.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------