Dave Cowens vs. Gordon Hayward Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gordon Hayward and Dave Cowens, 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.

Dave Cowens played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Gordon Hayward, who played 14. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Gordon Hayward had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Gordon Hayward 14 5 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1970-712010-11
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
difference:+9+21.1+11.6+13.1+1.7-2.8+4.8+12.0+.063+2.4+3.3+.021
Gordon Hayward 72 16.9 5.4 0.6 1.4 1.9 1.1 0.4 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.1 .485 0.5 1.0 .473 1.0 1.3 .711
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dave Cowens nor Gordon Hayward played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1971-722011-12
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
difference:+13+9.8+7.0+11.7-2.4+4.3+8.3+.028+0.7+0.4+.112
Gordon Hayward 66 30.5 11.8 0.9 2.6 3.5 3.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.6 4.0 8.9 .456 0.8 2.4 .346 2.9 3.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596
difference:+7+9.3+8.2+11.0-3.5+5.0+5.9+.273+1.5+0.3+.404
Gordon Hayward 4 30.8 7.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.0 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.0 1.5 8.3 .182 0.3 3.0 .083 4.0 4.0 1.000

Season 3

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1972-732012-13
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
difference:+10+12.6+6.4+13.1+1.1-2.1+4.3+9.3+.017+0.9+0.9+.048
Gordon Hayward 72 29.2 14.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.0 0.8 0.5 1.7 1.7 4.7 10.7 .435 1.4 3.4 .415 3.4 4.1 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659
Gordon Hayward DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1973-742013-14
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 80 41.9 19.0 3.3 12.4 15.7 4.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.7 8.1 18.4 .437 - - - 2.9 3.4 .832
difference:+3+5.5+2.8+2.5+8.1+10.6+0.8+0.2+0.8-1.7+2.6+5.0+.024+1.1+1.5+.016
Gordon Hayward 77 36.4 16.2 0.8 4.3 5.1 5.2 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.0 5.5 13.4 .413 1.1 3.6 .304 4.0 4.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 18 42.9 20.5 3.3 10.0 13.3 3.7 1.2 0.9 - 4.7 8.9 20.6 .435 - - - 2.6 3.3 .797
Gordon Hayward DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1974-752014-15
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 65 40.5 20.4 3.5 11.2 14.7 4.6 1.3 1.1 - 3.7 8.8 18.4 .475 - - - 2.9 3.8 .783
difference:+11+6.1+1.1+2.8+7.0+9.8+0.5+0.1+0.7-2.0+2.4+4.1+.030+2.0+2.3+.029
Gordon Hayward 76 34.4 19.3 0.7 4.2 4.9 4.1 1.4 0.4 2.7 1.7 6.4 14.3 .445 1.6 4.3 .364 4.9 6.1 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 11 43.5 20.5 4.5 12.0 16.5 4.2 1.6 0.5 - 4.5 9.2 21.5 .428 - - - 2.1 2.4 .885
Gordon Hayward DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1975-762015-16
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 78 39.8 19.0 4.3 11.7 16.0 4.2 1.2 0.9 - 4.0 7.8 16.7 .468 - - - 3.3 4.4 .756
difference:+2+3.6+0.7+3.5+7.5+11.0+0.5+0.6-1.7+1.3+1.7+.035+1.6+1.6+.068
Gordon Hayward 80 36.2 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 3.7 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.5 15.0 .433 1.8 5.1 .349 4.9 6.0 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 18 44.3 21.0 4.8 11.6 16.4 4.6 1.2 0.7 - 4.7 8.7 18.9 .457 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759
Gordon Hayward DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1976-772016-17
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 50 37.8 16.4 2.9 11.0 13.9 5.0 0.9 1.0 - 3.6 6.6 15.1 .434 - - - 3.2 4.0 .818
difference:+23+3.3+5.5+2.2+6.3+8.5+1.5+0.1+0.7-2.0+0.9+0.7+.037+1.8+1.9+.026
Gordon Hayward 73 34.5 21.9 0.7 4.7 5.4 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.9 1.6 7.5 15.8 .471 2.0 5.1 .398 5.0 5.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 9 42.1 16.6 3.2 11.7 14.9 4.0 0.9 1.4 - 4.1 7.3 16.4 .446 - - - 1.9 2.4 .773
difference:+2+4.7+7.5+2.6+6.2+8.8+0.6+1.1-2.0+0.2+0.7+.005+4.6+4.5+.161
Gordon Hayward 11 37.4 24.1 0.6 5.5 6.1 3.4 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.1 7.5 17.1 .441 2.5 6.2 .412 6.5 6.9 .934

Season 8

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1977-782017-18
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 77 41.8 18.6 3.2 10.8 14.0 4.6 1.3 0.9 2.8 3.9 7.8 15.8 .490 - - - 3.1 3.7 .842
difference:+76+36.8+16.6+3.2+9.8+13.0+4.6+1.3+0.9-2.8-2.9+6.8+13.8+.010+3.1+3.7
Gordon Hayward 1 5.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dave Cowens nor Gordon Hayward played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1978-792018-19
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 68 37.0 16.6 2.2 7.4 9.6 3.6 1.1 0.8 2.6 3.9 7.2 14.9 .483 - - - 2.2 2.8 .807
difference:+4+11.1+5.1+1.5+3.6+5.1+0.2+0.2+0.5-1.1-2.5+3.1+6.1+.017+0.2+.027
Gordon Hayward 72 25.9 11.5 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.4 0.9 0.3 1.5 1.4 4.1 8.8 .466 1.1 3.2 .333 2.2 2.6 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens DNP------ --- ----------
Gordon Hayward 9 29.7 9.6 0.3 3.7 4.0 2.4 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.8 3.2 7.8 .414 1.0 2.7 .375 2.1 2.1 1.000

Season 10

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1979-802019-20
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East 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%
Dave Cowens 66 32.7 14.2 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.6 3.3 6.4 14.1 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.4 1.8 .779
difference:+14+0.8+3.3+0.8+0.6+1.4+1.0+0.3+0.5-0.2-1.5+0.3+0.6+.047+1.6+4.1+.300+1.0+1.0+.076
Gordon Hayward 52 33.5 17.5 1.1 5.6 6.7 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.8 6.7 13.5 .500 1.6 4.3 .383 2.4 2.8 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 9 33.4 12.0 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.3 1.0 0.8 0.9 4.1 5.4 11.4 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.2 .909
difference:+4+2.0+1.2+1.4+1.9+3.3+0.5+0.4+0.4-0.5-2.1+1.4+1.4+.076+1.4+4.6+.292+0.3+0.4+.034
Gordon Hayward 5 31.4 10.8 0.6 3.4 4.0 2.8 1.4 0.4 1.4 2.0 4.0 10.0 .400 1.4 4.8 .292 1.4 1.6 .875

Note: Dave Cowens didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 11

Dave Cowens Gordon Hayward
Season 1982-832020-21
Team Milwaukee BucksCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens 40 25.4 8.1 1.8 5.0 6.9 2.1 0.8 0.4 1.1 3.4 3.4 7.7 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .825
difference:+4+8.6+11.5+1.0+1.0+2.0+0.4+0.1-1.0-1.7+3.7+7.3+.029+1.9+4.6+.415+2.2+2.6+.018
Gordon Hayward 44 34.0 19.6 0.8 5.0 5.9 4.1 1.2 0.3 2.1 1.7 7.1 15.0 .473 1.9 4.7 .415 3.5 4.2 .843
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dave Cowens nor Gordon Hayward played in the postseason in their season 11

Additional Years

* Gordon Hayward played 3 seasons more than Dave Cowens in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 14, from 2022 to 2024—Gordon Hayward played in one postseason.