Dave Cowens vs. Grant Long Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Grant Long 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, 4 less than Grant Long, who played 15. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Grant Long had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Grant Long 15 7 1988-89 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1970-711988-89
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Grant Long 82 29.7 11.9 2.9 3.7 6.7 1.8 1.5 0.6 2.5 4.1 4.1 8.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1971-721989-90
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 81 22.9 8.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 1.2 1.1 0.5 1.7 3.7 3.2 6.6 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1972-731990-91
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 80 31.4 9.2 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.7 3.5 7.0 .492 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 2.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1973-741991-92
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 %
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
Grant Long 82 37.4 14.8 3.2 5.3 8.4 2.7 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.0 5.4 10.9 .494 0.1 0.3 .273 4.0 4.9 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 3 40.0 12.3 2.3 2.7 5.0 2.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.7 5.0 12.0 .417 0.0 1.3 .000 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 5

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1974-751992-93
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
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 >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 76 35.9 14.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 2.4 1.4 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.2 11.1 .469 0.1 0.3 .231 3.4 4.5 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1975-761993-94
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 %
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
Grant Long 69 31.9 11.4 2.8 4.4 7.2 2.5 1.3 0.4 1.8 3.5 4.3 9.7 .446 0.0 0.1 .167 2.7 3.4 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 4 27.5 12.3 2.5 2.0 4.5 1.8 0.8 0.5 2.5 4.0 3.5 9.0 .389 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.8 .778

Season 7

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1976-771994-95
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 %
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
Grant Long 81 32.6 11.6 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.6 1.3 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.2 8.8 .478 0.1 0.4 .355 3.0 4.0 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 3 36.7 13.7 4.3 7.0 11.3 1.3 1.3 0.3 2.7 3.7 4.7 9.3 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 6.0 .722

Season 8

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1977-781995-96
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 82 36.7 13.1 3.0 6.6 9.6 2.2 1.3 0.4 1.9 2.8 4.8 10.2 .471 0.4 1.0 .360 3.1 4.1 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 10 36.2 11.4 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.4 11.1 .396 0.6 2.4 .250 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 9

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1978-791996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
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
Grant Long 65 17.9 5.0 1.4 2.1 3.4 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.2 .447 0.3 0.7 .362 1.0 1.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 5 17.4 5.0 0.8 1.4 2.2 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.6 3.6 .444 0.0 0.4 .000 1.8 2.2 .818

Season 10

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1979-801997-98
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 40 18.5 3.5 1.4 2.3 3.8 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.3 1.3 2.9 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Milwaukee BucksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Grant Long 50 27.6 9.8 2.0 3.9 5.9 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.9 3.0 7.2 .421 0.1 0.4 .167 3.7 4.7 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 9 39.8 11.7 3.1 5.1 8.2 0.9 2.0 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.0 9.8 .409 0.1 0.4 .250 3.6 4.9 .727

Season 12

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season -1999-00
Team -Vancouver Grizzlies
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 42 21.9 4.8 2.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 4.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season -2000-01
Team -Vancouver Grizzlies
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 66 22.8 6.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.9 2.4 2.1 4.8 .439 0.1 0.2 .267 1.7 2.4 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season -2001-02
Team -Memphis Grizzlies
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 66 28.3 6.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.9 2.5 5.8 .426 0.0 0.3 .176 1.3 1.9 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dave Cowens Grant Long
Season -2002-03
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 41 11.9 1.8 0.6 1.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.7 1.7 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Grant Long 8 4.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -