Dave Cowens vs. Richard Jefferson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Richard Jefferson 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, 6 less than Richard Jefferson, who played 17. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Richard Jefferson had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1970-712001-02
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost NBA Finals
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:+2+13.7+7.6+11.3+1.0-1.6+3.4+8.6+.035+1.0+1.2+.019
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens DNP------ --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550

Season 2

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1971-722002-03
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNets Lost NBA Finals
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:+1+4.3+3.3+8.8+0.6-1.3+2.6+5.8+.017+1.9+2.4+.023
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
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:+9+4.4+1.4+7.4+0.6-1.1+1.0+2.6+.021+0.6+.122
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718

Season 3

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1972-732003-04
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+3.6+2.0+10.5+0.3-1.1+2.2+6.4+.046+1.9+2.5+.016
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
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
difference:+2+4.4+2.1+10.3+0.1-1.0+3.9+6.6+.055+4.9+6.6+.054
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713

Season 4

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1973-742004-05
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+47+0.8+3.2+1.8+6.6+8.4+0.4+0.2+0.8-0.4+0.9+1.3+.015+4.0+4.8+.012
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
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
difference:+14+7.4+4.7+1.3+6.5+7.8+1.4+0.4+0.9-1.2+3.9+8.1+.035+2.7+4.5+.120
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677

Season 5

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1974-752005-06
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+13+1.3+0.9+2.3+5.6+7.9+0.8+0.5+0.9-1.2+2.5+5.5+.018+3.1+3.6+.029
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .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
difference:+3.8+1.7+3.9+8.5+12.4+0.1+0.7+0.1-1.6+1.0+6.5+.117+2.6+3.3+.060
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825

Season 6

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1975-762006-07
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+23+4.2+2.7+3.4+8.2+11.6+1.5+0.6+0.8-1.8+2.3+4.6+.012+1.0+1.5+.023
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
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
difference:+6+3.5+1.3+4.5+6.3+10.8+2.3+0.4+0.3-2.7+1.9+4.9+.025+1.4+0.7+.165
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924

Season 7

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1976-772007-08
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
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:+32+1.2+6.2+1.8+8.0+9.7+1.9+0.7-0.9+0.9+1.1+.032+3.4+4.3+.020
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
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
Richard Jefferson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1977-782008-09
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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:+5+6.0+1.0+2.5+6.9+9.4+2.2+0.5+0.7-0.8-0.8+1.3+0.9+.051+2.0+2.6+.037
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dave Cowens nor Richard Jefferson played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1978-792009-10
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West 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:+13+5.9+4.3+1.5+3.7+5.2+1.6+0.5+0.3-1.3-1.7+2.7+5.3+.016+0.4+0.7+.072
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave Cowens DNP------ --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758

Season 10

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1979-802010-11
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+15+2.3+3.2+1.2+3.0+4.3+1.8+0.5+0.5-0.5-1.3+2.6+6.2+.021+1.7+3.6+.357+0.4+0.6+.020
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
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:+3+4.1+5.5+1.7+1.5+3.1+1.5+0.5+0.3-0.1-1.9+3.4+6.2+.089+1.0+2.6+.353+0.4+0.6+.091
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Richard Jefferson
Season 1982-832011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors
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:+23+2.3+1.1+1.4+1.9+3.4+0.7+0.2+0.1-0.3-1.5+0.2+.028+1.8+4.2+.420+0.4+0.3+.131
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dave Cowens nor Richard Jefferson played in the postseason in their season 11

Additional Years

* Richard Jefferson played 6 seasons more than Dave Cowens in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 17, from 2013 to 2018—Richard Jefferson played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.