Bob Cousy vs. Manu Ginobili Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Manu Ginobili and Bob Cousy, 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 / Stats Rankings

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.

Bob Cousy played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than Manu Ginobili, who played 16. Bob Cousy had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, while Manu Ginobili had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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 achievements, 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
Bob Cousy 14 13 1950-51 to 1969-70
Manu Ginobili 16 15 2002-03 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1950-512002-03
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 69 - 15.6 - - 6.9 4.9 - - - 2.7 5.8 16.5 .352 - - - 4.0 5.3 .756
difference:+8.0+4.6+2.9-0.2+3.3+10.7+.086+2.2+2.8+.019
Manu Ginobili 69 20.7 7.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.5 2.5 5.8 .438 0.7 2.1 .345 1.8 2.5 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 2 - 14.0 - - 7.5 6.0 - - - 4.0 4.5 21.0 .214 - - - 5.0 6.0 .833
difference:+22+4.6+3.7+3.1-1.4+1.5+13.3+.172+2.7+2.9+.076
Manu Ginobili 24 27.5 9.4 1.2 2.6 3.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.5 2.6 3.0 7.7 .386 1.2 3.0 .384 2.3 3.1 .757

Season 2

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1951-522003-04
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div SemisSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 66 40.6 21.7 - - 6.4 6.7 - - - 2.9 7.8 21.0 .369 - - - 6.2 7.7 .808
difference:+11+11.2+8.9+1.9+2.9-0.5+3.5+10.8+.049+3.1+3.8+.006
Manu Ginobili 77 29.4 12.8 1.1 3.4 4.5 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.1 2.4 4.3 10.2 .418 1.1 3.2 .359 3.1 3.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 3 46.0 31.0 - - 4.0 6.3 - - - 4.3 8.7 21.7 .400 - - - 13.7 14.7 .932
difference:+7+18.1+18.0+1.3+3.2-1.3+4.5+12.3+.047+10.1+10.3+.114
Manu Ginobili 10 27.9 13.0 1.5 3.8 5.3 3.1 1.7 0.1 2.1 3.0 4.2 9.4 .447 1.0 3.5 .286 3.6 4.4 .818

Season 3

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1952-532004-05
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 71 41.5 19.8 - - 6.3 7.7 - - - 3.2 6.5 18.6 .352 - - - 6.7 8.3 .816
difference:+3+11.9+3.8+1.9+3.8-0.6+1.5+8.1+.119+1.9+2.3+.013
Manu Ginobili 74 29.6 16.0 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.0 10.5 .471 1.3 3.5 .376 4.8 6.0 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 6 45.0 25.5 - - 4.2 6.2 - - - 3.5 7.7 20.0 .383 - - - 10.2 12.2 .836
difference:+17+11.3+4.7+1.6+2.0-0.5+1.4+7.6+.124+3.8+4.2+.041
Manu Ginobili 23 33.7 20.8 0.8 5.0 5.8 4.2 1.2 0.3 2.9 3.0 6.3 12.4 .507 1.8 4.2 .438 6.4 8.0 .795

Season 4

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1953-542005-06
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 72 39.7 19.2 - - 5.5 7.2 - - - 2.8 6.8 17.5 .385 - - - 5.7 7.3 .787
difference:+7+11.8+4.1+2.0+3.6-0.4+2.0+7.2+.077+1.4+1.8+.009
Manu Ginobili 65 27.9 15.1 0.6 2.9 3.5 3.6 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.4 4.8 10.3 .462 1.3 3.3 .382 4.3 5.5 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 6 43.3 21.0 - - 5.3 6.3 - - - 3.3 5.5 19.3 .284 - - - 10.0 12.5 .800
difference:+7+10.5+2.6+0.8+3.3+0.3+7.2+.200+4.4+5.8+.039
Manu Ginobili 13 32.8 18.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.0 1.5 0.5 2.5 3.3 5.8 12.1 .484 1.1 3.2 .333 5.6 6.7 .839

Season 5

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1954-552006-07
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 71 38.7 21.2 - - 6.0 7.8 - - - 2.3 7.4 18.5 .397 - - - 6.5 8.0 .807
difference:+4+11.2+4.7+1.6+4.3-0.2+2.1+7.1+.067+2.2+3.0+.053
Manu Ginobili 75 27.5 16.5 0.8 3.6 4.4 3.5 1.5 0.4 2.1 2.1 5.3 11.4 .464 1.7 4.3 .396 4.3 5.0 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 7 42.7 21.7 - - 6.1 9.3 - - - 3.7 7.6 19.9 .381 - - - 6.6 6.9 .958
difference:+13+12.6+5.0+0.6+5.6-0.6+2.6+7.5+.020+1.7+1.1+.122
Manu Ginobili 20 30.1 16.7 0.8 4.7 5.5 3.7 1.7 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.0 12.4 .401 1.9 5.0 .384 4.9 5.8 .836

Season 6

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1955-562007-08
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div SemisSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 72 38.4 18.8 - - 6.8 8.9 - - - 2.9 6.1 17.0 .360 - - - 6.6 7.8 .844
difference:+2+7.3+0.7+2.0+4.4-0.6+3.7+.100+1.5+1.8+.016
Manu Ginobili 74 31.1 19.5 0.9 3.9 4.8 4.5 1.5 0.4 2.7 2.3 6.1 13.3 .460 2.1 5.3 .401 5.1 6.0 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 3 41.3 26.3 - - 8.0 8.7 - - - 1.3 9.3 18.7 .500 - - - 7.7 8.3 .920
difference:+14+8.4+8.5+4.2+4.8-1.5+3.5+5.1+.078+3.6+3.8+.024
Manu Ginobili 17 32.9 17.8 0.8 2.9 3.8 3.9 0.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.6 .422 2.2 6.0 .373 4.1 4.5 .896

Season 7

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1956-572008-09
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 64 36.9 20.6 - - 4.8 7.5 - - - 2.1 7.5 19.8 .378 - - - 5.7 6.9 .821
difference:+20+10.1+5.1+0.3+3.9-0.1+2.4+8.6+.076+1.9+2.6+.063
Manu Ginobili 44 26.8 15.5 0.5 4.0 4.5 3.6 1.5 0.4 2.0 2.0 5.1 11.2 .454 1.6 4.8 .330 3.8 4.3 .884
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 10 44.0 20.2 - - 6.1 9.3 - - - 2.7 6.7 20.7 .324 - - - 6.8 9.1 .747
Manu Ginobili DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1957-582009-10
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 65 34.2 18.0 - - 5.0 7.1 - - - 2.1 6.8 19.4 .353 - - - 4.3 5.0 .850
difference:+10+5.5+1.5+1.2+2.2+1.5+7.4+.088+0.2+0.3+.020
Manu Ginobili 75 28.7 16.5 0.9 2.9 3.8 4.9 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.1 5.3 12.0 .441 1.8 4.7 .377 4.1 4.7 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 11 41.5 18.0 - - 6.5 7.5 - - - 1.8 6.1 17.8 .342 - - - 5.8 6.8 .853
difference:+1+6.3+1.4+2.8+1.5-1.2+0.3+3.8+.072+0.1+.013
Manu Ginobili 10 35.2 19.4 0.4 3.3 3.7 6.0 2.6 0.2 3.0 3.0 5.8 14.0 .414 2.0 6.0 .333 5.8 6.7 .866

Season 9

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1958-592010-11
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 65 37.0 20.0 - - 5.5 8.6 - - - 2.1 7.4 19.4 .384 - - - 5.1 5.9 .855
difference:+15+6.7+2.6+1.8+3.7-0.1+1.9+6.7+.049+0.6+0.8+.016
Manu Ginobili 80 30.3 17.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 4.9 1.5 0.4 2.2 2.0 5.5 12.7 .433 1.9 5.5 .349 4.5 5.1 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 11 41.8 19.5 - - 6.9 10.8 - - - 2.5 6.5 20.1 .326 - - - 6.4 8.5 .745
difference:+6+7.0+1.1+2.9+6.6-0.1+0.3+6.1+.117+0.3+.035
Manu Ginobili 5 34.8 20.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.2 2.6 0.6 3.4 2.6 6.2 14.0 .443 1.8 5.6 .321 6.4 8.2 .780

Season 10

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1959-602011-12
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 75 34.5 19.4 - - 4.7 9.5 - - - 1.9 7.6 19.7 .384 - - - 4.3 5.4 .792
difference:+41+11.2+6.5+1.3+5.1-0.3+3.2+11.3+.142+1.7+2.4+.079
Manu Ginobili 34 23.3 12.9 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.4 0.7 0.4 1.9 1.6 4.4 8.4 .526 1.5 3.7 .413 2.6 3.0 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 13 36.0 15.3 - - 3.7 8.9 - - - 2.1 6.2 20.2 .305 - - - 3.0 3.9 .765
difference:+1+8.1+0.9+0.2+4.9-0.5+1.6+9.8+.143+0.4+0.1+.092
Manu Ginobili 14 27.9 14.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 4.0 0.7 0.3 3.0 2.6 4.6 10.4 .448 1.6 4.9 .338 3.4 4.0 .857

Season 11

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1960-612012-13
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 76 32.5 18.1 - - 4.4 7.7 - - - 2.6 6.8 18.2 .371 - - - 4.6 5.9 .779
difference:+16+9.3+6.3+1.0+3.1-0.7+3.0+9.2+.054+1.9+2.5+.017
Manu Ginobili 60 23.2 11.8 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.6 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.9 3.8 9.0 .425 1.4 3.9 .353 2.7 3.4 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 10 33.7 16.7 - - 4.3 9.1 - - - 3.3 5.0 14.7 .340 - - - 6.7 8.8 .761
difference:+11+7.0+5.2+0.6+4.1-0.8+1.3+5.5+.059+3.9+5.0+.023
Manu Ginobili 21 26.7 11.5 0.4 3.3 3.7 5.0 1.1 0.3 2.6 2.5 3.7 9.2 .399 1.4 4.6 .302 2.8 3.8 .738

Season 12

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1961-622013-14
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 75 28.2 15.7 - - 3.5 7.8 - - - 1.8 6.2 15.7 .391 - - - 3.3 4.4 .754
difference:+7+5.4+3.4+0.5+3.5-0.1+1.9+6.5+.078+0.9+1.6+.097
Manu Ginobili 68 22.8 12.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 4.3 9.2 .469 1.3 3.8 .349 2.4 2.8 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 14 33.9 16.0 - - 4.6 8.8 - - - 3.1 6.1 17.2 .357 - - - 3.7 5.4 .684
difference:+9+8.4+1.7+1.3+4.7-0.5+1.6+6.9+.082+0.2+1.3+.178
Manu Ginobili 23 25.5 14.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.1 1.6 0.1 2.3 2.6 4.5 10.3 .439 1.8 4.6 .390 3.5 4.1 .862

Season 13

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1962-632014-15
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 76 26.0 13.2 - - 2.5 6.8 - - - 2.3 5.2 13.0 .397 - - - 2.9 3.9 .735
difference:+6+3.3+2.7+0.5+2.6-0.3+1.6+4.6+.029+0.8+1.0+.014
Manu Ginobili 70 22.7 10.5 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.2 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.0 3.6 8.4 .426 1.3 3.7 .345 2.1 2.9 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 13 30.2 14.1 - - 2.5 8.9 - - - 3.4 5.5 15.7 .353 - - - 3.0 3.6 .830
difference:+6+11.5+6.1+0.9+4.3-0.7+3.4+9.6+.004+0.4+0.3+.047
Manu Ginobili 7 18.7 8.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 4.6 0.6 0.9 2.0 2.7 2.1 6.1 .349 1.1 3.1 .364 2.6 3.3 .783

Note: Bob Cousy didn't play in 1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Season 14

Bob Cousy Manu Ginobili
Season 1969-702015-16
Team Cincinnati RoyalsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy 7 4.9 0.7 - - 0.7 1.4 - - - 1.6 0.1 0.4 .333 - - - 0.4 0.4 1.000
difference:+51+14.7+8.9+1.8+1.7-0.1+3.3+7.1+.120+1.2+1.5+.187
Manu Ginobili 58 19.6 9.6 0.4 2.1 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.2 1.7 1.7 3.4 7.5 .453 1.2 3.1 .391 1.6 1.9 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob Cousy DNP------ --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 10 19.2 6.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.5 2.0 4.7 .426 0.9 2.1 .429 1.8 2.3 .783

Additional Years

* Manu Ginobili played 2 seasons more than Bob Cousy in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 16, from 2017 to 2018—Manu Ginobili played in two Playoffs.