Dave Cowens vs. Adrian Dantley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Adrian Dantley 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, 4 less than Adrian Dantley, who played 15. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Adrian Dantley had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Adrian Dantley 15 7 1976-77 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1970-711976-77
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Adrian Dantley 77 36.6 20.3 3.3 4.4 7.6 1.9 1.2 0.2 - 2.8 7.1 13.6 .520 - - - 6.2 7.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1971-721977-78
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Adrian Dantley 79 37.1 21.5 3.4 4.5 7.8 3.2 1.5 0.3 2.9 2.9 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 6.8 8.6 .796
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
Adrian Dantley 3 34.7 17.0 3.0 5.3 8.3 3.7 1.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 6.7 11.7 .571 - - - 3.7 5.7 .647

Season 3

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1972-731978-79
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Adrian Dantley 60 29.6 17.3 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.3 1.1 0.2 2.6 2.7 6.2 12.2 .510 - - - 4.9 5.7 .854
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
Adrian Dantley 8 29.5 17.6 1.3 2.9 4.1 1.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 3.0 6.3 11.1 .562 - - - 5.1 6.5 .788

Season 4

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1973-741979-80
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards 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 %
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
Adrian Dantley 68 39.3 28.0 2.7 4.9 7.6 2.8 1.4 0.2 3.4 3.1 10.7 18.6 .576 0.0 0.0 .000 6.5 7.7 .842
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
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1974-751980-81
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Adrian Dantley 80 42.7 30.7 2.4 4.0 6.4 4.0 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.1 11.4 20.3 .559 0.0 0.1 .286 7.9 9.8 .806
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
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1975-761981-82
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 %
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
Adrian Dantley 81 39.8 30.3 2.9 3.5 6.3 4.0 1.2 0.2 3.7 3.1 11.2 19.6 .570 0.0 0.0 .333 8.0 10.1 .792
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
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1976-771982-83
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Adrian Dantley 22 40.3 30.7 2.6 3.7 6.4 4.8 0.9 0.0 3.7 2.8 10.6 18.3 .580 0.0 0.0 - 9.5 11.3 .847
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
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1977-781983-84
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 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
Adrian Dantley 79 37.8 30.6 2.3 3.4 5.7 3.9 0.8 0.1 3.3 2.5 10.2 18.2 .558 0.0 0.1 .250 10.3 12.0 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 11 41.3 32.2 3.4 4.2 7.5 4.2 0.9 0.1 3.5 2.7 10.6 21.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 10.9 12.6 .863

Season 9

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1978-791984-85
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 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
Adrian Dantley 55 35.8 26.6 2.7 3.2 5.9 3.4 1.0 0.1 3.1 2.4 9.3 17.5 .531 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 9.9 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 10 39.8 25.3 2.5 5.0 7.5 2.0 1.6 0.0 3.6 3.9 7.9 15.1 .523 0.0 0.1 .000 9.5 12.2 .779

Season 10

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Adrian Dantley 76 36.1 29.8 2.3 2.9 5.2 3.5 0.8 0.1 3.0 2.7 10.8 19.1 .563 0.0 0.1 .091 8.3 10.5 .791
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
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 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
Adrian Dantley 81 33.8 21.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 2.0 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.9 .534 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.2 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 15 33.3 20.5 1.9 2.6 4.5 2.3 0.9 0.0 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.7 .539 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.4 .775

Season 12

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season -1987-88
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 69 31.1 20.0 1.2 2.1 3.3 2.5 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.1 6.4 12.5 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 7.1 8.3 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 23 35.0 19.4 1.6 3.0 4.7 2.0 0.8 0.0 2.2 2.2 6.7 12.7 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 7.7 .787

Season 13

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season -1988-89
Team -Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks
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 ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 73 33.2 19.2 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.3 0.6 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.4 13.1 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.8 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season -1989-90
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 45 28.9 14.7 1.7 2.1 3.8 1.8 0.4 0.2 1.7 2.2 5.1 10.8 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.6 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dave Cowens Adrian Dantley
Season -1990-91
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 10 12.6 5.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.8 1.9 5.0 .380 0.1 0.3 .333 1.8 2.6 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Adrian Dantley 3 6.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750