Dennis Johnson vs. Ed Nealy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ed Nealy and Dennis Johnson, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Ed Nealy, who played 10. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Ed Nealy 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Ed Nealy 10 6 1982-83 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1976-771982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsKansas City Kings
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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Ed Nealy 82 20.0 4.4 2.1 3.8 5.9 0.8 0.8 0.1 0.6 3.0 1.8 3.0 .595 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1977-781983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsKings 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Ed Nealy 71 13.5 2.5 1.0 2.1 3.1 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.9 0.9 1.8 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.8 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Ed Nealy 2 9.5 3.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1978-791984-85
Team Seattle SupersonicsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Ed Nealy 22 10.2 2.8 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.5 1.2 1.2 2.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Note: Ed Nealy didn't play in 1985-86.

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Ed Nealy 60 16.3 3.7 1.6 3.1 4.7 1.4 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.4 1.4 3.2 .438 0.1 0.5 .129 0.9 1.2 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Ed Nealy 68 12.3 2.1 1.2 2.1 3.3 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.4 0.7 1.6 .459 0.0 0.0 .500 0.6 0.9 .651
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
Ed Nealy 2 18.0 2.0 1.5 2.0 3.5 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 3.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Ed Nealy 43 6.0 0.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.3 0.8 .361 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .444
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
Ed Nealy 4 1.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Ed Nealy 46 10.9 2.3 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.5 0.8 1.5 .529 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.9 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
Ed Nealy 15 15.2 3.1 1.1 2.4 3.5 0.3 0.7 0.1 0.5 3.0 1.1 2.4 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.4 .619

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1983-841990-91
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Ed Nealy 55 10.4 2.2 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.8 1.8 .464 0.1 0.3 .313 0.5 0.7 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
Ed Nealy 2 10.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Ed Nealy 52 9.7 3.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.9 1.2 2.3 .512 0.4 1.0 .400 0.3 0.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
Ed Nealy 8 8.4 2.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.9 2.3 .389 0.6 1.6 .385 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1985-861992-93
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Ed Nealy 41 7.5 1.7 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.6 1.7 .377 0.2 0.7 .296 0.2 0.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1986-87-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1987-88-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Ed Nealy
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
Ed Nealy ------- --- ----------