Dave Cowens vs. Avery Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Avery Johnson and Dave Cowens, 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.

Dave Cowens played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Avery Johnson, who played 16. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Avery Johnson had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Avery Johnson 16 10 1988-89 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1970-711988-89
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Avery Johnson 43 6.8 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.8 0.7 1.9 .349 0.0 0.2 .111 0.2 0.4 .563
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 6 5.2 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8 2.0 .417 0.0 0.7 .000 0.2 0.3 .500

Season 2

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1971-721989-90
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Avery Johnson 53 10.8 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 3.1 0.5 0.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 2.7 .387 0.0 0.1 .250 0.5 0.8 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1972-731990-91
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Avery Johnson 68 14.1 4.7 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.4 0.7 0.1 1.1 0.9 1.9 4.1 .469 0.0 0.1 .111 0.9 1.3 .678
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659
Avery Johnson 3 6.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.7 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 4

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1973-741991-92
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 69 17.9 5.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.9 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.3 2.3 4.8 .479 0.1 0.2 .267 1.0 1.5 .653
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1974-751992-93
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
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
Avery Johnson 75 27.1 8.7 0.3 1.7 1.9 7.5 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.9 3.4 6.8 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 10 31.4 8.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 8.1 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.7 3.6 7.0 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 6

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1975-761993-94
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
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
Avery Johnson 82 28.4 10.9 0.5 1.6 2.1 5.3 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.0 4.3 8.8 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 3 13.7 6.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 7

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1976-771994-95
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 82 36.7 13.4 0.6 1.9 2.5 8.2 1.4 0.2 2.5 1.9 5.5 10.5 .519 0.0 0.3 .136 2.5 3.6 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 15 38.3 14.5 0.6 1.5 2.1 8.3 1.3 0.4 2.0 1.9 6.1 11.7 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.9 .621

Season 8

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1977-781995-96
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
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
Avery Johnson 82 37.6 13.1 0.5 2.1 2.5 9.6 1.5 0.3 2.4 2.2 5.3 10.8 .494 0.1 0.4 .194 2.3 3.2 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 10 40.7 12.3 0.6 3.0 3.6 9.4 2.0 0.1 2.4 2.1 5.2 12.1 .430 0.0 0.2 .000 1.9 2.7 .704

Season 9

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1978-791996-97
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
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 %
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
Avery Johnson 76 32.5 10.5 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.8 1.3 0.2 1.9 2.1 4.3 9.0 .477 0.1 0.3 .231 1.8 2.7 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1979-801997-98
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
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
Avery Johnson 75 35.7 10.2 0.4 1.6 2.0 7.9 1.1 0.2 2.2 1.9 4.3 8.9 .478 0.0 0.2 .154 1.6 2.2 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Avery Johnson 9 38.1 17.3 0.3 1.1 1.4 6.1 1.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.2 .604 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 5.7 .667

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Antonio Spurs
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 %
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
Avery Johnson 50 33.4 9.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 7.4 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.0 4.4 9.2 .473 0.0 0.2 .083 1.0 1.8 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 17 38.5 12.6 0.5 1.9 2.5 7.4 1.2 0.1 2.9 1.8 5.4 11.0 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.9 2.8 .681

Season 12

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season -1999-00
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 82 31.4 11.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.0 0.9 0.2 1.7 1.8 4.9 10.4 .473 0.0 0.1 .111 1.4 1.9 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 4 36.3 12.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 5.3 1.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 4.8 10.5 .452 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.5 .714

Season 13

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season -2000-01
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 55 23.5 5.6 0.4 1.2 1.5 4.3 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.6 2.4 5.5 .447 0.0 0.1 .167 0.7 1.1 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 13 21.7 5.8 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.2 0.8 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 6.8 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.2 .533

Season 14

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season -2001-02
Team -Denver Nuggets, 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 68 19.9 7.9 0.2 0.8 1.0 4.2 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.3 3.0 6.4 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.4 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season -2002-03
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 48 9.0 3.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.1 .420 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dave Cowens Avery Johnson
Season -2003-04
Team -Golden State Warriors
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson 46 13.8 4.6 0.1 0.7 0.7 2.4 0.6 0.1 1.1 0.7 1.7 4.3 .402 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.7 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------