Bruce Bowen vs. George Mikan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of George Mikan and Bruce Bowen, 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.

Bruce Bowen played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than George Mikan, who played 7. Bruce Bowen had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while George Mikan had his rookie season in 1948-49. 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
Bruce Bowen 13 10 1996-97 to 2008-09
George Mikan 7 7 1948-49 to 1955-56

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 1996-971948-49
Team Miami HeatMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
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 %
Bruce Bowen 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
George Mikan 60 - 28.3 - - - 3.6 - - - 4.3 9.7 23.4 .416 - - - 8.9 11.5 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
George Mikan 10 - 30.3 - - - 2.1 - - - 4.4 10.3 22.7 .454 - - - 9.7 12.1 .802

Season 2

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 1997-981949-50
Team Boston CelticsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
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 %
Bruce Bowen 61 21.4 5.6 1.3 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 0.5 0.9 2.9 2.0 4.9 .409 0.3 1.0 .339 1.2 2.0 .623
George Mikan 68 - 27.4 - - - 2.9 - - - 4.4 9.5 23.5 .407 - - - 8.3 10.7 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
George Mikan 12 - 31.3 - - - 3.0 - - - 3.9 10.1 26.3 .383 - - - 11.2 14.2 .788

Season 3

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 1998-991950-51
Team Boston CelticsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 30 16.5 2.3 0.5 1.2 1.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.7 0.9 3.1 .280 0.2 0.9 .269 0.4 0.8 .458
George Mikan 68 - 28.4 - - 14.1 3.1 - - - 4.5 10.0 23.3 .428 - - - 8.5 10.5 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
George Mikan 7 - 24.0 - - 10.6 1.3 - - - 3.6 8.9 21.7 .408 - - - 6.3 7.9 .800

Season 4

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 1999-001951-52
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Miami HeatMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bruce Bowen 69 12.7 2.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 1.7 1.0 2.8 .371 0.4 0.8 .466 0.4 0.6 .581
George Mikan 64 40.2 23.8 - - 13.5 3.0 - - - 4.5 8.5 22.1 .385 - - - 6.8 8.7 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 15.8 3.5 0.1 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.6 2.7 1.0 2.7 .370 0.5 2.2 .227 1.0 1.6 .625
George Mikan 13 42.5 23.6 - - 15.9 2.8 - - - 4.8 7.6 20.1 .379 - - - 8.4 10.6 .790

Season 5

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2000-011952-53
Team Miami HeatMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.7 7.6 0.5 2.4 3.0 1.6 1.0 0.6 0.9 3.3 2.6 7.1 .363 1.3 3.7 .336 1.2 2.0 .609
George Mikan 70 37.9 20.6 - - 14.4 2.9 - - - 4.1 7.1 17.9 .399 - - - 6.3 8.1 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 3 19.3 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.0 -
George Mikan 12 38.6 19.8 - - 15.4 1.9 - - - 4.7 6.5 17.8 .366 - - - 6.8 9.3 .732

Season 6

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2001-021953-54
Team San Antonio SpursMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Bruce Bowen 59 28.8 7.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.5 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.7 .389 0.9 2.5 .378 0.8 1.6 .479
George Mikan 72 32.8 18.1 - - 14.3 2.4 - - - 3.7 6.1 16.1 .380 - - - 5.9 7.6 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 34.5 6.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.7 2.8 2.5 6.1 .410 1.1 2.5 .440 0.7 1.4 .500
George Mikan 13 32.6 19.4 - - 13.2 1.9 - - - 4.3 6.7 14.6 .458 - - - 6.0 7.4 .813

Note: George Mikan didn't play in 1954-55.

Season 7

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2002-031955-56
Team San Antonio SpursMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 31.3 7.1 0.7 2.2 2.9 1.4 0.8 0.5 0.9 2.4 2.7 5.8 .466 1.2 2.8 .441 0.4 1.1 .404
George Mikan 37 20.7 10.5 - - 8.3 1.4 - - - 4.1 4.0 10.1 .395 - - - 2.5 3.3 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 24 31.2 6.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.3 6.0 .372 1.5 3.3 .438 1.0 1.8 .548
George Mikan 3 20.0 12.0 - - 9.3 1.7 - - - 4.7 4.3 11.7 .371 - - - 3.3 4.3 .769

Season 8

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2003-04-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 6.9 0.5 2.5 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.1 .420 0.9 2.6 .363 0.8 1.4 .579
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 29.9 6.0 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.4 2.4 2.3 6.3 .365 1.1 2.9 .379 0.3 1.3 .231
George Mikan ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2004-05-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 8.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 1.5 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.1 3.1 7.3 .420 1.2 3.1 .403 0.9 1.4 .634
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 23 35.4 5.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 3.3 2.0 5.6 .359 1.3 2.9 .433 0.5 0.7 .647
George Mikan ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2005-06-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Bruce Bowen 82 33.6 7.5 0.4 3.5 3.9 1.5 1.0 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.8 6.5 .433 1.3 3.0 .424 0.6 1.0 .607
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 13 34.0 6.2 0.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.7 3.2 2.5 4.7 .525 1.2 2.3 .500 0.1 0.2 .500
George Mikan ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2006-07-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 30.0 6.2 0.3 2.4 2.7 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.3 5.7 .405 1.1 2.8 .384 0.5 0.9 .589
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 20 34.5 6.5 0.6 3.5 4.1 1.3 1.4 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 6.0 .395 1.7 3.7 .446 0.2 0.3 .500
George Mikan ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2007-08-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Bruce Bowen 81 30.2 6.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.3 .407 1.1 2.7 .419 0.6 0.9 .652
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 17 29.9 6.1 0.1 1.8 1.9 1.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 2.4 2.2 5.5 .398 1.3 3.2 .407 0.5 0.6 .727
George Mikan ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bruce Bowen George Mikan
Season 2008-09-
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 %
Bruce Bowen 80 18.8 2.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.3 1.5 1.0 2.3 .422 0.5 1.2 .429 0.2 0.3 .538
George Mikan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 5 26.0 4.2 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.6 .538 1.0 1.8 .556 0.4 0.4 1.000
George Mikan ------- --- ----------