Alton Lister vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Alton Lister, 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.

Alton Lister played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Alton Lister had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Alton Lister 16 11 1981-82 to 1997-98
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1981-821980-81
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Alton Lister 80 14.8 4.5 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.6 3.0 1.9 3.6 .519 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .520
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 %
Alton Lister 6 18.7 5.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 0.8 0.3 2.5 1.5 3.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .714
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1982-831981-82
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Alton Lister 80 23.6 8.4 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.1 3.4 6.4 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 3.0 .537
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 %
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.4 2.3 4.4 6.8 1.2 1.0 1.7 1.9 3.3 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .800
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1983-841982-83
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Alton Lister 82 23.8 7.6 1.9 5.5 7.4 1.3 0.5 1.7 1.9 4.0 3.1 6.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .626
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 %
Alton Lister 16 23.0 6.8 1.6 4.4 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 2.4 4.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .625
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1984-851983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Alton Lister 81 25.8 9.9 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.5 4.0 7.4 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.2 .588
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 %
Alton Lister 8 25.4 8.6 3.4 4.4 7.8 1.9 0.8 1.9 2.0 4.5 3.4 7.5 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 4.0 .469
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Alton Lister 81 22.4 9.8 2.5 4.9 7.3 1.2 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.7 3.9 7.1 .551 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.3 .602
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 %
Alton Lister 14 23.9 11.9 2.6 4.2 6.9 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.0 4.7 7.4 .641 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 4.1 .603
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871985-86
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 75 30.5 11.6 3.0 6.4 9.4 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 3.9 4.6 9.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.5 .675
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 %
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.0 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.1 4.1 2.2 5.6 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.2 .700
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 82 22.1 5.6 2.4 5.2 7.6 0.7 0.3 1.7 1.1 3.9 2.1 4.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .500 1.4 2.3 .606
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 %
Alton Lister 5 15.4 5.6 1.8 4.0 5.8 1.0 0.2 1.0 0.8 3.4 2.4 3.4 .706 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .800
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Alton Lister 82 22.0 8.0 2.5 4.1 6.6 0.7 0.3 2.2 1.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 .499 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .646
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 %
Alton Lister 8 20.0 7.0 1.6 3.1 4.8 0.3 0.3 2.6 1.1 3.5 2.1 4.9 .436 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.3 .846
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Alton Lister 3 13.3 4.0 1.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.3 .571
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 %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1990-911989-90
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Alton Lister 77 20.2 6.4 1.6 4.7 6.3 1.2 0.3 1.2 1.4 3.7 2.4 5.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .569
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 %
Alton Lister 6 12.0 4.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.0 4.2 .480 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.8 .400
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1991-921990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Alton Lister 26 11.3 3.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.3 1.7 3.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .424
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 %
Alton Lister 4 11.8 4.0 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1992-931991-92
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Alton Lister 20 8.7 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.9 2.0 1.0 2.1 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .538
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 %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Alton Lister didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 13

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1994-951992-93
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Alton Lister 60 12.9 2.8 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.6 2.4 1.1 2.2 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
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 %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
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

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1995-96-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics-
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 %
Alton Lister 64 11.5 2.2 1.0 3.3 4.4 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.1 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .641
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1996-97-
Team Boston Celtics-
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 %
Alton Lister 53 9.7 1.6 1.2 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.8 0.6 1.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .742
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Alton Lister Kevin McHale
Season 1997-98-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Alton Lister 7 6.3 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 2 5.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------