Dave Cowens vs. Tim Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tim Thomas 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, 2 less than Tim Thomas, who played 13. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Tim Thomas had his rookie season in 1997-98. 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
Tim Thomas 13 7 1997-98 to 2009-10

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1970-711997-98
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Tim Thomas 77 23.1 11.0 1.4 2.4 3.7 1.2 0.7 0.2 1.5 2.4 4.0 8.9 .447 0.8 2.2 .363 2.2 3.0 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1971-721998-99
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Tim Thomas 50 16.2 7.2 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 2.1 2.6 5.6 .473 0.4 1.4 .309 1.5 2.2 .652
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
Tim Thomas 3 19.7 7.7 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 3.7 2.7 6.0 .444 0.0 0.7 .000 2.3 4.0 .583

Season 3

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1972-731999-00
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Tim Thomas 80 26.2 11.8 1.3 2.9 4.2 1.4 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.8 4.3 9.4 .461 0.8 2.3 .346 2.4 3.0 .774
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
Tim Thomas 5 28.4 15.4 1.2 3.6 4.8 2.0 0.2 0.8 0.2 2.8 5.8 11.8 .492 1.0 3.0 .333 2.8 3.4 .824

Season 4

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1973-742000-01
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks Lost East Conf Finals
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
Tim Thomas 76 27.4 12.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.5 2.6 4.3 10.0 .430 1.4 3.4 .412 2.6 3.3 .771
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
Tim Thomas 18 26.5 11.3 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.6 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.6 7.9 .448 1.2 2.8 .431 2.9 3.6 .815

Season 5

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1974-752001-02
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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
Tim Thomas 74 26.9 11.7 0.9 3.2 4.1 1.4 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 10.2 .420 1.3 3.9 .326 1.9 2.4 .793
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1975-762002-03
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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
Tim Thomas 80 29.5 13.3 1.2 3.7 4.9 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.7 3.2 5.2 11.6 .443 1.2 3.3 .366 1.8 2.3 .780
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
Tim Thomas 6 31.8 17.8 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.5 1.0 1.3 4.5 6.0 13.0 .462 2.0 3.5 .571 3.8 5.3 .719

Season 7

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1976-772003-04
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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
Tim Thomas 66 31.7 14.7 1.0 3.9 4.8 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.5 12.3 .446 1.1 2.9 .376 2.6 3.3 .784
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
Tim Thomas 1 23.0 12.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 5.0 4.0 10.0 .400 0.0 1.0 .000 4.0 5.0 .800

Season 8

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1977-782004-05
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 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
Tim Thomas 71 27.3 12.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 1.5 0.6 0.2 1.6 3.1 4.4 10.1 .439 1.2 2.9 .409 1.9 2.4 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1978-792005-06
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
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
Tim Thomas 29 23.0 10.3 0.8 3.8 4.5 0.7 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.7 3.9 9.0 .431 1.6 3.8 .414 1.0 1.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 20 31.8 15.1 0.8 5.5 6.3 1.3 0.9 0.4 1.1 4.5 5.4 11.0 .491 2.4 5.4 .444 1.9 2.5 .776

Season 10

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1979-802006-07
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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
Tim Thomas 76 27.0 11.0 0.8 4.1 5.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.4 3.0 3.9 9.5 .414 1.8 4.7 .382 1.3 1.9 .708
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season 1982-832007-08
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
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 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
Tim Thomas 63 30.8 12.4 1.0 4.1 5.1 2.7 0.6 0.5 1.6 3.0 4.6 11.2 .413 1.3 4.3 .306 1.8 2.4 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season -2008-09
Team -Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 64 19.5 8.5 0.7 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.5 0.2 1.1 2.3 3.0 6.8 .432 1.2 3.0 .413 1.4 1.9 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 2 7.5 3.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.0 1.5 5.0 .300 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Dave Cowens Tim Thomas
Season -2009-10
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 18 15.8 7.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.7 2.7 5.9 .462 0.9 2.4 .372 1.2 1.3 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------