Billy Cunningham vs. Dale Ellis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dale Ellis and Billy Cunningham, 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.

Billy Cunningham played 9 years in the NBA, 8 less than Dale Ellis, who played 17. Billy Cunningham had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, while Dale Ellis had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Billy Cunningham 9 6 1965-66 to 1975-76
Dale Ellis 17 10 1983-84 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1965-661983-84
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsMavericks 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 %
Billy Cunningham 80 26.7 14.3 - - 7.5 2.6 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .426 - - - 3.5 5.5 .634
Dale Ellis 67 15.8 8.2 1.6 2.1 3.7 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.2 1.8 3.4 7.4 .456 0.2 0.4 .414 1.3 1.8 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 4 17.3 5.3 - - 4.5 2.5 - - - 2.8 1.3 7.8 .161 - - - 2.8 3.3 .846
Dale Ellis 8 22.3 7.4 2.4 2.9 5.3 0.5 1.3 0.3 0.6 2.1 3.3 10.0 .325 0.1 1.5 .083 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1966-671984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
Billy Cunningham 81 26.8 18.5 - - 7.3 2.5 - - - 3.2 6.9 15.0 .459 - - - 4.7 6.9 .686
Dale Ellis 72 18.3 9.3 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.4 .454 0.6 1.5 .385 1.1 1.4 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 15 22.6 15.0 - - 6.2 2.2 - - - 3.5 5.5 14.7 .376 - - - 3.9 6.0 .656
Dale Ellis 4 17.0 5.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 0.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.5 5.8 .435 0.5 1.3 .400 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 3

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1967-681985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsMavericks 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 %
Billy Cunningham 74 28.1 18.9 - - 7.6 2.5 - - - 3.5 7.0 15.9 .438 - - - 5.0 6.9 .723
Dale Ellis 72 15.1 7.1 1.2 1.1 2.3 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.1 2.7 6.5 .411 0.9 2.4 .364 0.8 1.1 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 3 28.7 20.7 - - 7.3 3.3 - - - 5.3 8.0 14.3 .558 - - - 4.7 5.7 .824
Dale Ellis 7 9.6 4.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.3 3.1 .409 1.0 1.7 .583 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 4

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1968-691986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Billy Cunningham 82 40.8 24.8 - - 12.8 3.5 - - - 4.0 9.0 21.2 .426 - - - 6.8 9.2 .737
Dale Ellis 82 37.5 24.9 2.3 3.2 5.5 2.9 1.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 9.6 18.5 .516 1.0 2.9 .358 4.7 6.0 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 5 43.4 24.4 - - 12.6 2.4 - - - 4.8 9.8 23.4 .419 - - - 4.8 7.6 .632
Dale Ellis 14 37.9 25.2 2.6 3.8 6.4 2.6 0.7 0.4 2.4 3.9 10.6 21.7 .487 0.9 2.6 .361 3.1 3.9 .815

Season 5

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1969-701987-88
Team Philadelphia 76ersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisSupersonics 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 %
Billy Cunningham 81 39.4 26.1 - - 13.6 4.3 - - - 4.1 9.9 21.1 .469 - - - 6.3 8.6 .729
Dale Ellis 75 37.2 25.8 2.2 2.3 4.5 2.6 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.9 10.2 20.3 .503 1.4 3.5 .413 4.0 5.3 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 5 41.0 29.2 - - 10.4 4.0 - - - 3.8 12.2 24.6 .496 - - - 4.8 7.2 .667
Dale Ellis 5 34.4 20.8 2.2 2.4 4.6 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.4 3.4 8.0 16.6 .482 0.6 2.4 .250 4.2 5.8 .724

Season 6

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1970-711988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Billy Cunningham 81 38.1 23.0 - - 11.7 4.9 - - - 4.0 8.7 18.8 .462 - - - 5.6 7.7 .734
Dale Ellis 82 38.9 27.5 1.9 2.3 4.2 2.0 1.3 0.3 2.7 2.4 10.5 20.9 .501 2.0 4.1 .478 4.6 5.6 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham 7 43.0 25.9 - - 15.4 5.7 - - - 4.0 9.6 20.3 .472 - - - 6.7 9.6 .701
Dale Ellis 8 38.0 22.9 1.8 2.3 4.0 1.3 1.4 0.1 2.6 2.4 9.0 20.0 .450 1.9 4.6 .405 3.0 4.1 .727

Season 7

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1971-721989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Billy Cunningham 75 38.7 23.3 - - 12.2 5.9 - - - 3.9 8.8 19.0 .461 - - - 5.7 8.0 .712
Dale Ellis 55 37.0 23.5 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.0 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.3 9.1 18.4 .497 1.7 4.7 .375 3.5 4.3 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Note: Billy Cunningham didn't play in 1972-73 and 1973-74.

Season 8

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1974-751990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Billy Cunningham 80 35.7 19.5 1.6 7.5 9.1 5.5 1.1 0.4 - 3.4 7.6 17.8 .428 - - - 4.3 5.6 .777
Dale Ellis 51 27.9 16.8 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.9 1.0 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.7 14.1 .474 1.1 3.1 .363 2.4 3.3 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season 1975-761991-92
Team Philadelphia 76ersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Billy Cunningham 20 32.0 13.7 1.5 5.9 7.4 5.4 1.2 0.5 - 2.9 5.2 12.6 .410 - - - 3.4 4.4 .773
Dale Ellis 81 27.0 15.7 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.3 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.9 6.0 12.8 .469 1.7 4.1 .419 2.0 2.6 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1992-93
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 82 33.3 16.7 1.0 2.8 3.8 1.3 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.6 13.3 .499 1.5 3.6 .401 1.9 2.4 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 10 30.5 12.5 0.9 2.6 3.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.1 11.3 .451 1.0 3.2 .313 1.3 1.6 .813

Season 11

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1993-94
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 77 33.6 15.2 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.0 0.9 0.1 1.0 1.8 6.2 12.6 .494 1.7 4.3 .395 1.1 1.4 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 4 28.5 10.5 0.8 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.3 10.8 .395 1.3 4.3 .294 0.8 1.3 .600

Season 12

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1994-95
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 81 24.6 11.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.8 4.3 9.6 .453 1.3 3.2 .403 1.4 1.6 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 3 24.3 12.0 2.0 2.7 4.7 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.0 3.3 9.3 .357 1.3 4.3 .308 4.0 4.3 .923

Season 13

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1995-96
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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 81 32.4 14.9 1.1 2.8 3.9 1.7 0.7 0.1 1.2 2.4 5.7 11.8 .479 1.9 4.5 .412 1.7 2.2 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1996-97
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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 82 35.9 16.6 1.2 2.4 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 5.8 14.0 .414 2.3 6.4 .364 2.6 3.2 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1997-98
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 79 24.5 11.8 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.9 1.6 4.4 8.9 .497 1.6 3.5 .464 1.4 1.8 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 10 17.2 5.6 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.0 2.0 5.3 .377 1.1 2.6 .423 0.5 0.6 .833

Season 16

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1998-99
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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 48 25.7 10.3 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.6 8.2 .441 2.0 4.5 .433 1.1 1.5 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Billy Cunningham Dale Ellis
Season -1999-00
Team -Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets
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 %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis 42 13.4 4.2 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.1 1.6 3.8 .415 0.9 2.4 .370 0.2 0.3 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Cunningham ------- --- ----------
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------