Bill Cartwright vs. Dennis Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Johnson and Bill Cartwright, 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.

Bill Cartwright played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Dennis Johnson, who played 14. Bill Cartwright had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dennis Johnson 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
Bill Cartwright 15 10 1979-80 to 1994-95
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1979-801976-77
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 38.4 21.7 2.4 6.5 8.9 2.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 8.1 14.8 .547 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .797
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1980-811977-78
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 82 35.7 20.1 2.0 5.5 7.5 1.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 3.2 7.5 13.6 .554 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.3 .788
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 2 24.5 10.0 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 3.0 8.5 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
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

Season 3

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1981-821978-79
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 72 28.6 14.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.7 .763
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
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

Season 4

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1982-831979-80
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 30.1 15.7 2.3 4.9 7.2 1.7 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.8 5.5 9.8 .566 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.2 .744
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 6 28.7 11.2 1.5 4.2 5.7 0.7 0.5 1.2 3.2 4.2 4.2 7.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .773
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

Season 5

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1983-841980-81
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Bill Cartwright 77 32.3 17.0 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.4 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.4 5.9 10.5 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 6.5 .805
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 12 33.2 17.4 2.3 6.0 8.3 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 10.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 6.7 .863
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

Note: Bill Cartwright didn't play in 1984-85.

Season 6

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1985-861981-82
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Bill Cartwright 2 18.0 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.0 1.5 3.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 5.0 .600
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
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

Season 7

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1986-871982-83
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Bill Cartwright 58 34.3 17.5 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.7 0.7 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 10.9 .531 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 7.6 .790
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
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

Season 8

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1987-881983-84
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 20.4 11.1 1.5 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.6 2.9 3.5 6.4 .544 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.2 .798
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 4 19.0 7.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.0 3.0 2.3 4.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.8 .733
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

Season 9

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 78 29.9 12.4 1.9 4.7 6.7 1.2 0.3 0.5 2.4 3.0 4.7 9.8 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.9 .766
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 34.3 11.8 1.9 5.2 7.1 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.4 4.1 4.2 8.7 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.7 .700
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

Season 10

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 71 30.4 11.4 1.9 4.6 6.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.7 3.4 4.1 8.4 .488 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.9 .811
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 16 28.9 8.1 1.6 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.1 7.6 .413 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .674
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

Season 11

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 79 28.8 9.6 2.1 4.0 6.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.2 .490 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .697
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 30.1 9.5 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.2 3.2 4.1 7.9 .519 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .688
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

Season 12

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 64 23.0 8.0 1.5 3.6 5.1 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 2.0 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .604
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 22 27.8 5.6 1.3 3.1 4.5 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.2 3.2 2.5 5.3 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .419
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

Season 13

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 63 19.9 5.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.3 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.4 2.2 5.4 .411 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .735
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 19 23.4 6.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 0.6 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 5.2 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .778
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 -

Season 14

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1993-941989-90
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 42 18.6 5.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.0 2.3 4.5 .513 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .684
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 9 21.0 4.6 2.1 2.8 4.9 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.9 1.6 4.8 .326 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .813
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

Season 15

Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson
Season 1994-95-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 29 14.8 2.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.4 0.9 2.4 .391 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .625
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------