Walter Davis vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Walter Davis, 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.

Walter Davis played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Walter Davis had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Kevin McHale had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Walter Davis 15 10 1977-78 to 1991-92
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1977-781980-81
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 81 32.0 24.2 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.4 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.0 9.7 18.4 .526 - - - 4.8 5.8 .830
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 2 33.0 25.0 2.0 6.5 8.5 4.0 1.5 0.0 3.0 4.0 9.5 20.0 .475 - - - 6.0 8.0 .750
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

Season 2

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1978-791981-82
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 79 30.8 23.6 1.4 3.3 4.7 4.3 1.9 0.3 3.7 3.2 9.7 17.2 .561 - - - 4.3 5.2 .831
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 15 32.7 22.1 1.6 3.0 4.6 5.3 1.7 0.3 4.4 2.7 8.5 16.3 .520 - - - 5.2 6.4 .813
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

Season 3

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 75 30.8 21.5 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.5 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.7 8.8 15.5 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 4.9 .819
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 8 30.6 20.8 1.1 1.8 2.9 4.4 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 8.6 17.1 .504 0.0 0.4 .000 3.5 4.8 .737
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

Season 4

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Walter Davis 78 28.0 18.0 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.5 7.6 14.1 .539 0.1 0.2 .412 2.7 3.2 .836
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 28.4 16.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.4 .588
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

Season 5

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 55 21.5 14.4 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.9 0.8 0.1 2.0 1.9 6.4 12.2 .523 0.1 0.3 .188 1.7 2.0 .820
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 24.7 18.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 7.4 16.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .333 3.1 3.4 .917
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

Season 6

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 80 31.1 19.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.0 1.5 0.2 2.4 2.3 8.3 16.1 .516 0.1 0.3 .304 2.3 2.8 .818
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 37.7 26.0 1.7 3.3 5.0 4.3 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.0 10.0 23.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .500 5.7 7.0 .810
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

Season 7

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 78 32.6 20.0 0.5 2.1 2.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 8.4 16.3 .512 0.3 1.1 .230 3.0 3.5 .863
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 17 36.6 24.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 6.4 1.7 0.2 2.5 3.2 10.3 19.2 .535 0.2 0.6 .273 4.1 4.6 .897
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

Season 8

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 23 24.8 15.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 4.3 0.8 0.0 2.2 1.8 6.0 13.4 .450 0.1 0.4 .300 2.8 3.2 .877
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Season 9

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 70 32.0 21.8 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.2 1.4 0.0 3.1 2.2 8.9 18.4 .485 0.3 1.1 .237 3.7 4.4 .843
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Season 10

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 79 33.5 23.6 1.1 1.9 3.1 4.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.3 9.9 19.2 .514 0.3 1.0 .259 3.6 4.2 .862
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Season 11

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 68 28.7 17.9 0.5 1.9 2.3 4.1 1.3 0.0 1.9 1.9 7.2 15.2 .473 0.5 1.4 .375 3.0 3.4 .887
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 81 22.9 15.6 0.5 1.4 1.9 2.3 0.9 0.1 1.6 2.3 6.6 13.3 .498 0.2 0.9 .290 2.2 2.5 .879
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 31.3 25.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 2.7 3.7 10.3 20.0 .517 0.0 1.3 .000 5.0 5.0 1.000
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

Season 13

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Walter Davis 69 23.7 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 2.2 0.9 0.1 1.5 2.3 7.2 15.0 .481 0.1 0.7 .130 3.0 3.3 .912
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 23.3 14.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 2.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.3 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Season 14

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1990-91-
Team Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Walter Davis 71 20.9 13.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 1.8 1.1 0.0 1.2 2.1 5.7 12.1 .468 0.2 0.5 .306 1.5 1.6 .915
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 13 8.5 3.3 0.5 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 1.5 3.7 .396 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Walter Davis Kevin McHale
Season 1991-92-
Team Denver Nuggets-
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 %
Walter Davis 46 16.1 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.0 8.8 .459 0.1 0.3 .313 1.8 2.0 .872
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------