Dave Cowens vs. Moses Malone Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Moses Malone 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, 8 less than Moses Malone, who played 19. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Moses Malone had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Moses Malone 19 12 1976-77 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1970-711976-77
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Moses Malone 82 30.6 13.2 5.3 7.7 13.1 1.1 0.8 2.2 - 3.4 4.7 9.9 .480 - - - 3.7 5.4 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 12 43.2 18.8 7.0 9.9 16.9 0.6 1.1 1.8 - 3.5 6.8 13.5 .500 - - - 5.3 7.6 .692

Season 2

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1971-721977-78
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Moses Malone 59 35.7 19.4 6.4 8.6 15.0 0.5 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.0 7.0 14.0 .499 - - - 5.4 7.5 .718
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
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1972-731978-79
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Moses Malone 82 41.3 24.8 7.2 10.5 17.6 1.8 1.0 1.5 4.0 2.7 8.7 16.2 .540 - - - 7.3 9.9 .739
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
Moses Malone 2 39.0 24.5 12.5 8.0 20.5 1.0 0.5 4.0 4.0 2.5 9.0 20.5 .439 - - - 6.5 9.0 .722

Season 4

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1973-741979-80
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
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
Moses Malone 82 38.3 25.8 7.0 7.5 14.5 1.8 1.0 1.3 3.7 2.6 9.5 18.9 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 9.5 .719
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
Moses Malone 7 39.3 25.9 6.0 7.9 13.9 1.0 0.6 2.3 3.1 2.6 10.6 19.7 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .767

Season 5

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1974-751980-81
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost NBA Finals
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
Moses Malone 80 40.6 27.8 5.9 8.8 14.8 1.8 1.0 1.9 3.9 2.8 10.1 19.3 .522 0.0 0.0 .333 7.6 10.1 .757
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
Moses Malone 21 45.5 26.8 6.0 8.6 14.5 1.7 0.6 1.6 2.8 2.6 9.9 20.6 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 9.9 .712

Season 6

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1975-761981-82
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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
Moses Malone 81 42.0 31.1 6.9 7.8 14.7 1.8 0.9 1.5 3.6 2.6 11.7 22.5 .519 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.2 .762
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
Moses Malone 3 45.3 24.0 9.3 7.7 17.0 3.3 0.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 9.7 22.3 .433 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 5.0 .933

Season 7

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1976-771982-83
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
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
Moses Malone 78 37.5 24.5 5.7 9.6 15.3 1.3 1.1 2.0 3.4 2.6 8.4 16.7 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 7.7 10.1 .761
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
Moses Malone 13 40.3 26.0 5.4 10.5 15.8 1.5 1.5 1.9 3.1 3.1 9.7 18.1 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 6.6 9.2 .717

Season 8

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1977-781983-84
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
Moses Malone 71 36.8 22.7 5.0 8.4 13.4 1.4 1.0 1.5 3.5 2.6 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 7.7 10.2 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 5 42.4 21.4 4.0 9.8 13.8 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.2 3.0 7.6 16.6 .458 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 6.4 .969

Season 9

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1978-791984-85
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
Moses Malone 79 37.4 24.6 4.9 8.2 13.1 1.6 0.8 1.6 3.6 2.7 7.6 16.3 .469 0.0 0.0 .000 9.3 11.4 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 13 38.8 20.2 2.8 7.8 10.6 1.8 1.3 1.7 1.8 3.0 6.9 16.3 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 7.9 .796

Season 10

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Moses Malone 74 36.6 23.8 4.6 7.2 11.8 1.2 0.9 1.0 3.5 2.6 7.7 16.8 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 8.3 10.6 .787
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
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
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
Moses Malone 73 34.1 24.1 4.7 6.6 11.3 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.8 1.9 8.2 18.0 .454 0.0 0.2 .000 7.8 9.5 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 3 38.0 20.7 5.0 7.7 12.7 1.7 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.7 7.0 15.7 .447 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 7.0 .952

Season 12

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1987-88
Team -Washington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bullets 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 79 34.1 20.3 4.7 6.5 11.2 1.4 0.7 0.9 3.2 2.0 6.7 13.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .286 6.9 8.7 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 5 39.6 18.6 4.4 6.8 11.2 1.4 0.6 0.8 3.0 1.8 6.0 13.0 .462 0.0 0.2 .000 6.6 8.0 .825

Season 13

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1988-89
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Hawks 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 81 35.5 20.2 4.8 7.0 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.2 3.0 1.9 6.6 13.5 .491 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 8.8 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 5 39.4 21.0 5.4 6.6 12.0 1.8 1.4 0.8 2.2 1.0 6.4 12.8 .500 0.2 0.2 1.000 8.0 10.2 .784

Season 14

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1989-90
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 81 33.8 18.9 4.5 5.5 10.0 1.6 0.6 1.0 2.9 2.0 6.4 13.3 .480 0.0 0.1 .111 6.1 7.8 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1990-91
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 82 23.3 10.6 3.3 4.8 8.1 0.8 0.4 0.9 1.7 1.6 3.4 7.3 .468 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.5 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 5 16.8 4.2 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 0.8 4.0 .200 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 2.8 .929

Season 16

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1991-92
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 82 30.6 15.6 3.9 5.2 9.1 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8 1.7 5.4 11.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .375 4.8 6.1 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1992-93
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 11 9.5 4.5 2.0 2.2 4.2 0.6 0.1 0.7 0.9 0.5 1.2 3.8 .310 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 2.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1993-94
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 55 11.2 5.3 1.9 2.2 4.1 0.6 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.9 1.9 4.2 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.1 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Dave Cowens Moses Malone
Season -1994-95
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 17 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.9 0.8 2.1 .371 0.1 0.1 .500 1.3 1.9 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------