Dave Cowens vs. Paul George Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul George 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, 3 less than Paul George, who played 14. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Paul George had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Paul George 14 11 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1970-712010-11
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Paul George 61 20.7 7.8 0.6 3.1 3.7 1.1 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.1 2.9 6.5 .453 0.7 2.3 .297 1.3 1.7 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George 5 26.6 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 1.4 2.0 1.4 2.2 2.0 6.6 .303 0.6 2.6 .231 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 2

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1971-722011-12
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPacers 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 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Paul George 66 29.7 12.1 0.8 4.8 5.6 2.4 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.3 9.7 .440 1.4 3.5 .385 2.2 2.8 .802
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
Paul George 11 33.7 9.7 1.4 5.3 6.6 2.4 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.9 3.4 8.6 .389 1.0 3.7 .268 2.0 2.5 .786

Season 3

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1972-732012-13
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPacers 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 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Paul George 79 37.6 17.4 1.1 6.5 7.6 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.9 2.9 6.2 14.9 .419 2.2 5.9 .362 2.8 3.5 .807
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
Paul George 19 41.1 19.2 0.8 6.6 7.4 5.1 1.3 0.5 3.9 3.8 6.3 14.6 .430 1.8 5.5 .327 4.9 6.7 .727

Season 4

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1973-742013-14
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Paul George 80 36.2 21.7 0.8 6.0 6.8 3.5 1.9 0.3 2.8 2.5 7.2 17.0 .424 2.3 6.3 .364 5.0 5.8 .864
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
Paul George 19 41.1 22.6 0.7 6.9 7.6 3.8 2.2 0.4 2.6 2.9 7.3 16.6 .438 2.7 6.8 .403 5.3 6.7 .789

Season 5

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1974-752014-15
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Paul George 6 15.2 8.8 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.0 0.8 0.2 2.0 1.8 3.0 8.2 .367 1.5 3.7 .409 1.3 1.8 .727
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
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1975-762015-16
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Paul George 81 34.8 23.1 1.0 6.0 7.0 4.1 1.9 0.4 3.3 2.8 7.5 17.9 .418 2.6 7.0 .371 5.6 6.5 .860
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
Paul George 7 39.3 27.3 1.3 6.3 7.6 4.3 2.0 0.7 3.3 3.4 8.0 17.6 .455 2.6 6.1 .419 8.7 9.1 .953

Season 7

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1976-772016-17
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Paul George 75 35.9 23.7 0.8 5.8 6.6 3.3 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.7 8.3 18.0 .461 2.6 6.6 .393 4.5 5.0 .898
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
Paul George 4 43.0 28.0 1.3 7.5 8.8 7.3 1.8 0.5 3.3 3.3 8.5 22.0 .386 4.5 10.5 .429 6.5 7.5 .867

Season 8

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1977-782017-18
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Paul George 79 36.6 21.9 0.9 4.7 5.7 3.3 2.0 0.5 2.7 2.9 7.3 17.0 .430 3.1 7.7 .401 4.3 5.2 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George 6 41.8 24.7 0.7 5.3 6.0 2.7 1.3 0.7 4.0 2.8 8.2 20.0 .408 3.2 8.7 .365 5.2 6.0 .861

Season 9

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1978-792018-19
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Paul George 77 36.9 28.0 1.4 6.8 8.2 4.1 2.2 0.4 2.7 2.8 9.2 21.0 .438 3.8 9.8 .386 5.9 7.0 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George 5 40.8 28.6 1.2 7.4 8.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 4.2 4.2 8.8 20.2 .436 3.0 9.4 .319 8.0 9.8 .816

Season 10

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1979-802019-20
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsClippers 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
Paul George 48 29.6 21.5 0.5 5.2 5.7 3.9 1.4 0.4 2.6 2.4 7.1 16.3 .439 3.3 7.9 .412 4.0 4.5 .876
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
Paul George 13 36.8 20.2 1.1 5.0 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 3.1 3.8 6.8 17.0 .398 2.8 8.5 .333 3.8 4.2 .909

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season 1982-832020-21
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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 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
Paul George 54 33.7 23.3 0.8 5.8 6.6 5.2 1.1 0.4 3.3 2.4 8.2 17.6 .467 3.2 7.7 .411 3.7 4.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George 19 40.8 26.9 0.9 8.7 9.6 5.4 1.0 0.5 3.5 3.1 8.7 19.7 .441 2.7 8.0 .336 6.8 8.1 .844

Season 12

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul George 31 34.7 24.3 0.4 6.5 6.9 5.7 2.2 0.4 4.1 2.4 8.6 20.5 .421 2.9 8.3 .354 4.1 4.8 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul George 56 34.6 23.8 0.8 5.3 6.1 5.1 1.5 0.4 3.1 2.8 8.2 17.9 .457 2.8 7.6 .371 4.6 5.3 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Paul George
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul George 74 33.8 22.6 0.5 4.7 5.2 3.5 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.7 7.9 16.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .413 3.6 3.9 .907
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul George 6 37.0 19.5 0.5 6.3 6.8 4.8 1.2 0.5 2.3 3.7 6.5 15.8 .411 3.0 8.2 .367 3.5 4.2 .840