Dave Cowens vs. Wayman Tisdale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wayman Tisdale 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, 1 less than Wayman Tisdale, who played 12. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Wayman Tisdale had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Wayman Tisdale 12 4 1985-86 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1970-711985-86
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
Wayman Tisdale 81 28.1 14.7 2.4 4.9 7.2 1.0 0.4 0.5 2.3 3.6 6.4 12.4 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1971-721986-87
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPacers 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
Wayman Tisdale 81 26.7 14.5 2.7 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.6 0.3 1.7 3.6 5.7 11.0 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.5 .709
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
Wayman Tisdale 4 27.0 12.8 1.3 2.8 4.0 2.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 4.3 4.8 7.8 .613 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.8 .565

Season 3

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1972-731987-88
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 30.1 16.1 2.1 4.1 6.2 1.3 0.7 0.4 1.8 3.5 6.5 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.0 .783
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1973-741988-89
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 79 30.8 17.5 2.4 5.3 7.7 1.6 0.7 0.7 2.2 3.7 6.7 13.1 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 5.2 .773
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1974-751989-90
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 37.2 22.3 2.3 5.2 7.5 1.4 0.7 0.7 1.9 3.2 9.2 17.5 .525 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.9 .783
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1975-761990-91
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 33 33.8 20.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 2.0 0.7 0.8 2.5 3.0 7.9 16.4 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.2 .800
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1976-771991-92
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 72 35.0 16.6 1.9 4.6 6.5 1.5 0.8 1.1 1.7 3.4 7.3 14.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 2.8 .763
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1977-781992-93
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 76 30.0 16.6 1.7 4.9 6.6 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.5 3.6 7.2 14.1 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.0 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1978-791993-94
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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 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
Wayman Tisdale 79 32.4 16.7 2.0 5.1 7.1 1.8 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.7 7.0 13.9 .501 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.4 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1979-801994-95
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSuns 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 %
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
Wayman Tisdale 65 19.6 10.0 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.0 2.9 4.3 8.8 .484 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .770
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
Wayman Tisdale 10 17.0 7.3 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.6 3.2 3.2 7.1 .451 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.4 .643

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season 1982-831995-96
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
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
Wayman Tisdale 63 18.3 10.7 0.9 2.5 3.4 0.9 0.2 0.6 1.0 3.0 4.4 9.0 .495 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale 4 16.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.8 2.5 7.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 12

Dave Cowens Wayman Tisdale
Season -1996-97
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale 53 14.7 6.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.7 2.1 3.0 7.0 .426 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale 4 9.3 3.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -