DeMarcus Cousins vs. Mike Sanders Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mike Sanders and DeMarcus Cousins, 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.

DeMarcus Cousins and Mike Sanders both played 11 years in the NBA. DeMarcus Cousins had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Mike Sanders had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
DeMarcus Cousins 11 3 2010-11 to 2021-22
Mike Sanders 11 9 1982-83 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2010-111982-83
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 81 28.5 14.1 2.7 6.0 8.6 2.5 1.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 5.3 12.4 .430 0.0 0.2 .167 3.4 5.0 .687
Mike Sanders 26 15.1 7.0 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.2 2.9 6.0 .484 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.7 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 6 4.2 2.3 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 2.2 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2011-121983-84
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 64 30.5 18.1 4.1 6.8 11.0 1.6 1.5 1.2 2.7 4.0 7.0 15.6 .448 0.0 0.2 .143 4.1 5.8 .702
Mike Sanders 50 11.7 4.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 2.0 1.9 4.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 15 10.1 4.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 2.1 1.5 3.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.1 .941

Season 3

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2012-131984-85
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 75 30.5 17.1 3.0 7.0 9.9 2.7 1.4 0.7 3.0 3.6 6.4 13.8 .465 0.1 0.3 .182 4.2 5.6 .738
Mike Sanders 21 19.9 10.2 1.8 2.4 4.2 1.4 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.8 4.0 8.3 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 3 30.3 17.3 2.7 2.3 5.0 3.3 1.7 0.0 3.0 2.7 7.3 12.3 .595 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800

Season 4

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2013-141985-86
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 71 32.4 22.7 3.1 8.6 11.7 2.9 1.5 1.3 3.5 3.8 8.3 16.8 .496 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 8.4 .726
Mike Sanders 82 20.0 11.0 1.3 2.1 3.3 1.8 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.9 4.2 8.2 .513 0.0 0.2 .200 2.5 3.1 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 5

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2014-151986-87
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 59 34.1 24.1 3.1 9.5 12.7 3.6 1.5 1.7 4.3 4.1 8.4 18.1 .467 0.0 0.1 .250 7.2 9.2 .782
Mike Sanders 82 20.2 10.5 1.2 2.1 3.3 1.5 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.6 4.4 8.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .118 1.7 2.2 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 6

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2015-161987-88
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 65 34.6 26.9 2.4 9.1 11.5 3.3 1.6 1.4 3.8 3.6 9.2 20.5 .451 1.1 3.2 .333 7.3 10.2 .718
Mike Sanders 59 15.0 6.2 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.6 5.1 .505 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.3 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 5 26.8 12.8 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.4 0.6 0.4 2.2 4.2 5.6 10.4 .538 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.0 .800

Season 7

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2016-171988-89
Team Sacramento Kings, New Orleans PelicansCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 72 34.2 27.0 2.1 8.9 11.0 4.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 3.9 9.0 19.9 .452 1.8 5.0 .361 7.2 9.3 .772
Mike Sanders 82 25.6 9.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 1.6 1.1 0.4 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.9 .453 0.0 0.1 .300 1.2 1.6 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 5 17.4 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.8 0.4 0.2 2.0 2.2 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 8

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2017-181989-90
Team New Orleans PelicansIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 48 36.2 25.2 2.2 10.7 12.9 5.4 1.6 1.6 5.0 3.8 8.5 18.0 .470 2.2 6.1 .354 6.1 8.2 .746
Mike Sanders 82 18.7 6.2 1.0 1.9 2.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.7 2.7 5.8 .470 0.1 0.2 .357 0.7 0.9 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 3 8.0 3.7 1.7 0.3 2.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 1.7 3.7 .455 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2018-191990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 30 25.7 16.3 1.4 6.8 8.2 3.6 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.6 5.9 12.4 .480 0.9 3.2 .274 3.5 4.8 .736
Mike Sanders 80 17.0 5.8 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 2.6 6.2 .417 0.1 0.3 .200 0.6 0.7 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins 8 16.6 7.6 1.1 3.8 4.9 2.4 0.6 0.8 2.4 3.0 2.6 6.6 .396 0.4 1.5 .250 2.0 3.1 .640
Mike Sanders 5 8.2 3.0 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.8 1.2 2.0 .600 0.2 0.4 .500 0.4 0.8 .500

Note: DeMarcus Cousins didn't play in 2019-20.

Season 10

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2020-211991-92
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles ClippersIndiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 41 17.4 8.9 1.3 5.1 6.4 1.9 0.8 0.6 1.6 2.6 3.2 7.4 .426 1.1 3.3 .348 1.4 2.0 .728
Mike Sanders 31 20.4 7.1 0.9 2.2 3.1 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.7 3.0 5.2 .571 0.0 0.1 .333 1.2 1.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins 7 8.3 7.6 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.9 2.7 6.0 .452 0.6 1.4 .400 1.6 2.0 .786
Mike Sanders 17 24.6 7.6 1.2 2.1 3.2 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.6 3.3 6.8 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.0 1.2 .810

Season 11

DeMarcus Cousins Mike Sanders
Season 2021-221992-93
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
DeMarcus Cousins 48 14.9 9.0 1.5 4.1 5.6 1.5 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.9 3.1 6.8 .460 0.8 2.5 .303 2.0 2.6 .760
Mike Sanders 53 22.4 8.6 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.1 2.8 3.7 7.5 .497 0.0 0.1 .250 1.1 1.5 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeMarcus Cousins 5 11.4 10.6 0.6 2.8 3.4 1.2 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.8 3.8 5.8 .655 0.8 1.2 .667 2.2 3.0 .733
Mike Sanders 8 18.1 5.8 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.3 1.0 0.1 0.4 2.1 2.5 6.0 .417 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 1.3 .600