Kevin McHale vs. Rudy Tomjanovich Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Tomjanovich and Kevin McHale, 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.

Kevin McHale played 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Rudy Tomjanovich, who played 11. Kevin McHale had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Rudy Tomjanovich had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93
Rudy Tomjanovich 11 5 1970-71 to 1980-81

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1980-811970-71
Team Boston CelticsSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Kevin McHale 82 20.1 10.0 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.3 3.2 4.3 8.1 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.9 .679
Rudy Tomjanovich 77 13.8 5.3 - - 4.9 0.9 - - - 1.6 2.2 5.7 .383 - - - 0.9 1.5 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 17 17.4 8.5 1.7 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.2 1.5 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .639
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1981-821971-72
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Kevin McHale 82 28.4 13.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.1 0.4 2.3 1.7 3.2 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .754
Rudy Tomjanovich 78 34.5 15.0 - - 11.8 1.5 - - - 2.5 6.4 12.9 .495 - - - 2.2 3.1 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 12 28.7 16.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.3 3.7 6.4 11.2 .575 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.4 .755
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1982-831972-73
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 82 28.6 14.1 2.6 4.1 6.7 1.3 0.4 2.3 1.9 2.9 5.9 10.9 .541 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .717
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 36.7 19.3 - - 11.6 2.2 - - - 2.8 8.1 16.9 .478 - - - 3.1 4.1 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 7 25.3 11.1 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.3 4.9 8.9 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.6 .556
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1983-841973-74
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Kevin McHale 82 31.4 18.4 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.0 7.2 12.9 .556 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.4 .765
Rudy Tomjanovich 80 40.3 24.5 2.9 6.1 9.0 3.1 1.1 0.8 - 2.9 9.9 18.4 .536 - - - 4.8 5.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 23 30.5 14.8 2.7 3.5 6.2 1.2 0.1 1.5 1.7 3.3 5.3 10.6 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.3 .777
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1984-851974-75
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Kevin McHale 79 33.6 19.8 2.9 6.1 9.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.0 3.0 7.7 13.4 .570 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.9 .760
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.7 20.7 2.3 5.3 7.6 2.9 0.9 0.3 - 2.8 8.6 16.3 .525 - - - 3.6 4.5 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 21 39.9 22.1 3.5 6.4 9.9 1.5 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 8.2 14.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 7.1 .807
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 38.0 23.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 2.9 0.1 0.5 - 2.1 9.0 16.0 .563 - - - 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 6

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1985-861975-76
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Kevin McHale 68 35.3 21.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 2.7 0.4 2.0 2.2 2.8 8.3 14.4 .574 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.2 .776
Rudy Tomjanovich 79 36.9 18.5 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 - 2.6 7.9 15.2 .517 - - - 2.8 3.6 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 18 39.7 24.9 2.8 5.8 8.6 2.7 0.4 2.4 2.7 3.6 9.3 16.1 .579 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .794
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1986-871976-77
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Kevin McHale 77 39.7 26.1 3.2 6.7 9.9 2.6 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.1 10.3 17.0 .604 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.6 .836
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.6 21.6 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.1 0.7 0.3 - 2.4 9.0 17.7 .510 - - - 3.5 4.2 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 21 39.4 21.1 3.1 6.1 9.2 1.9 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.0 .762
Rudy Tomjanovich 12 38.1 20.3 2.0 3.4 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .505 - - - 2.4 3.1 .784

Season 8

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1987-881977-78
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
Kevin McHale 64 37.3 22.6 2.5 5.9 8.4 2.7 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.8 8.6 14.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 6.8 .797
Rudy Tomjanovich 23 36.9 21.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 1.4 0.7 0.2 1.7 2.7 9.4 19.4 .485 - - - 2.7 3.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 17 42.1 25.4 3.2 4.8 8.0 2.4 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.8 9.3 15.4 .603 0.1 0.1 1.000 6.8 8.1 .839
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1988-891978-79
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Kevin McHale 78 36.9 22.5 2.9 5.3 8.2 2.2 0.3 1.2 2.5 2.9 8.5 15.5 .546 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.8 .818
Rudy Tomjanovich 74 35.7 19.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.9 2.5 8.4 16.2 .517 - - - 2.3 3.0 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 3 38.3 19.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 4.3 6.7 13.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.7 .739
Rudy Tomjanovich 2 32.0 10.0 3.5 3.5 7.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 4.5 11.5 .391 - - - 1.0 2.5 .400

Season 10

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1989-901979-80
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Kevin McHale 82 33.2 20.9 2.5 5.8 8.3 2.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.0 7.9 14.4 .549 0.3 0.8 .333 4.8 5.4 .893
Rudy Tomjanovich 62 29.6 14.2 2.1 3.6 5.8 1.8 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.6 6.0 12.5 .476 0.4 1.3 .278 1.9 2.4 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 5 38.4 22.0 1.6 6.2 7.8 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.8 3.4 8.4 13.8 .609 0.2 0.6 .333 5.0 5.8 .862
Rudy Tomjanovich 7 26.4 8.3 1.7 4.0 5.7 1.4 0.3 0.0 2.0 3.0 3.4 9.1 .375 0.1 1.0 .143 1.3 1.9 .692

Season 11

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1990-911980-81
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 68 30.4 18.4 2.1 4.9 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 2.1 2.9 7.4 13.4 .553 0.2 0.5 .405 3.4 4.0 .829
Rudy Tomjanovich 52 24.3 11.6 1.5 2.5 4.0 1.6 0.4 0.1 1.1 2.3 5.1 10.8 .467 0.2 1.0 .235 1.3 1.6 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 11 34.2 20.7 1.6 4.9 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 1.3 3.8 7.1 13.5 .527 0.5 1.0 .545 6.0 7.3 .825
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 3.9 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.1 1.1 .111 0.0 0.4 .000 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 12

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1991-92-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Kevin McHale 56 25.0 13.9 2.1 3.8 5.9 1.5 0.2 1.1 1.5 2.0 5.8 11.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.9 .822
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 10 30.6 16.5 2.1 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.4 6.5 12.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .795
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Kevin McHale Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1992-93-
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 %
Kevin McHale 71 23.3 10.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 1.0 0.2 0.8 1.3 1.8 4.2 9.1 .459 0.0 0.3 .111 2.3 2.7 .841
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale 4 28.3 19.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.3 1.5 8.0 13.8 .582 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .857
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------