Alvan Adams vs. Dave Cowens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dave Cowens and Alvan Adams, 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.

Alvan Adams played 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Dave Cowens, who played 11. Alvan Adams had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, while Dave Cowens had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Alvan Adams 13 9 1975-76 to 1987-88
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1975-761970-71
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 80 33.2 19.0 2.7 6.4 9.1 5.6 1.5 1.5 - 3.4 7.9 16.8 .469 - - - 3.3 4.4 .735
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 19 35.2 17.9 2.8 7.2 10.1 5.2 1.3 1.1 - 3.2 7.2 15.9 .452 - - - 3.5 4.3 .817
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1976-771971-72
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Alvan Adams 72 31.6 18.0 2.5 6.6 9.1 4.5 1.3 1.2 - 3.6 7.3 15.3 .474 - - - 3.5 4.6 .754
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596

Season 3

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1977-781972-73
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 70 27.3 15.5 2.3 5.8 8.1 3.2 1.2 0.9 3.3 3.5 6.2 12.8 .485 - - - 3.1 4.2 .730
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 2 35.5 16.0 4.0 4.0 8.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 4.5 4.0 7.5 16.5 .455 - - - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659

Season 4

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1978-791973-74
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Alvan Adams 77 30.7 17.8 2.9 6.3 9.2 4.7 1.4 0.8 3.6 3.2 7.4 13.9 .530 - - - 3.0 3.8 .799
Dave Cowens 80 41.9 19.0 3.3 12.4 15.7 4.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.7 8.1 18.4 .437 - - - 2.9 3.4 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 12 31.0 12.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 4.4 0.9 1.0 3.0 3.4 5.5 11.6 .475 - - - 1.8 2.6 .710
Dave Cowens 18 42.9 20.5 3.3 10.0 13.3 3.7 1.2 0.9 - 4.7 8.9 20.6 .435 - - - 2.6 3.3 .797

Season 5

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1979-801974-75
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 75 28.9 14.9 2.1 6.0 8.1 4.3 1.4 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.2 11.7 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.1 .797
Dave Cowens 65 40.5 20.4 3.5 11.2 14.7 4.6 1.3 1.1 - 3.7 8.8 18.4 .475 - - - 2.9 3.8 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 8 31.4 16.1 2.3 7.4 9.6 5.8 0.9 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.0 12.4 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .895
Dave Cowens 11 43.5 20.5 4.5 12.0 16.5 4.2 1.6 0.5 - 4.5 9.2 21.5 .428 - - - 2.1 2.4 .885

Season 6

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1980-811975-76
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Alvan Adams 75 27.4 14.9 2.1 5.2 7.3 4.6 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.0 6.1 11.6 .526 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.5 .768
Dave Cowens 78 39.8 19.0 4.3 11.7 16.0 4.2 1.2 0.9 - 4.0 7.8 16.7 .468 - - - 3.3 4.4 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 7 31.1 10.6 1.6 4.3 5.9 3.7 0.6 0.1 2.7 2.9 3.9 8.6 .450 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .714
Dave Cowens 18 44.3 21.0 4.8 11.6 16.4 4.6 1.2 0.7 - 4.7 8.7 18.9 .457 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 7

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1981-821976-77
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 79 30.3 15.1 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.5 1.4 1.0 2.5 3.4 6.4 13.0 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .781
Dave Cowens 50 37.8 16.4 2.9 11.0 13.9 5.0 0.9 1.0 - 3.6 6.6 15.1 .434 - - - 3.2 4.0 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 7 33.3 16.9 2.7 4.6 7.3 3.7 2.0 1.4 3.0 3.1 6.9 13.1 .522 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.0 .786
Dave Cowens 9 42.1 16.6 3.2 11.7 14.9 4.0 0.9 1.4 - 4.1 7.3 16.4 .446 - - - 1.9 2.4 .773

Season 8

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1982-831977-78
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Alvan Adams 80 30.6 14.2 2.0 4.8 6.9 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.0 12.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .333 2.3 2.7 .829
Dave Cowens 77 41.8 18.6 3.2 10.8 14.0 4.6 1.3 0.9 2.8 3.9 7.8 15.8 .490 - - - 3.1 3.7 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 3 28.0 11.7 1.0 5.0 6.0 4.7 0.7 1.7 1.7 5.0 5.0 10.7 .469 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .714
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1983-841978-79
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Alvan Adams 70 20.7 9.6 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.1 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.8 3.8 8.3 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .825
Dave Cowens 68 37.0 16.6 2.2 7.4 9.6 3.6 1.1 0.8 2.6 3.9 7.2 14.9 .483 - - - 2.2 2.8 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 17 18.4 8.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.1 3.1 7.4 .421 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.1 .679
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1984-851979-80
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 82 26.0 14.7 1.9 4.2 6.1 3.8 1.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 5.8 11.2 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .883
Dave Cowens 66 32.7 14.2 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.6 3.3 6.4 14.1 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.4 1.8 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 3 26.3 17.0 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.7 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.7 7.7 15.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .833
Dave Cowens 9 33.4 12.0 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.3 1.0 0.8 0.9 4.1 5.4 11.4 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.2 .909

Note: Dave Cowens didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 11

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Phoenix SunsMilwaukee Bucks
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 %
Alvan Adams 78 25.7 10.8 1.9 4.2 6.1 4.2 1.3 0.6 2.6 3.5 4.4 8.7 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .783
Dave Cowens 40 25.4 8.1 1.8 5.0 6.9 2.1 0.8 0.4 1.1 3.4 3.4 7.7 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1986-87-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Alvan Adams 68 24.9 11.1 1.3 3.6 5.0 3.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 3.0 4.6 9.1 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .788
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Alvan Adams Dave Cowens
Season 1987-88-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Alvan Adams 82 20.1 7.5 1.4 3.0 4.5 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.7 3.0 3.1 6.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .500 1.3 1.6 .844
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------