Dave Cowens vs. Wayne Ellington Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wayne Ellington 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 Wayne Ellington, who played 13. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Wayne Ellington had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Wayne Ellington 13 3 2009-10 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1970-712009-10
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Wayne Ellington 76 18.2 6.6 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.0 0.3 0.1 1.0 0.9 2.5 5.9 .424 0.8 2.1 .395 0.8 0.9 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1971-722010-11
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Wayne Ellington 62 19.0 6.6 0.4 1.3 1.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.9 1.4 2.6 6.4 .403 0.8 2.0 .397 0.7 0.9 .792
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1972-732011-12
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Wayne Ellington 51 19.1 6.1 0.3 1.7 1.9 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.5 1.1 2.4 5.9 .404 0.7 2.1 .324 0.6 0.8 .800
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1973-742012-13
Team Boston CelticsMemphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers
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
Wayne Ellington 78 21.3 7.9 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.3 0.6 0.0 0.7 1.0 2.9 6.8 .427 1.2 3.1 .392 0.9 1.0 .907
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1974-752013-14
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 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
Wayne Ellington 45 8.7 3.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.7 1.2 2.8 .437 0.6 1.3 .424 0.2 0.2 .909
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
Wayne Ellington 2 7.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 1.0 3.0 .333 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 6

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1975-762014-15
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
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
Wayne Ellington 65 25.8 10.0 0.5 2.8 3.2 1.6 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.9 9.5 .412 1.4 3.7 .370 0.8 1.0 .813
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1976-772015-16
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
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
Wayne Ellington 76 21.3 7.7 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.1 2.9 7.4 .389 1.3 3.5 .358 0.7 0.8 .857
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1977-782016-17
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
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
Wayne Ellington 62 24.2 10.5 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.1 3.7 9.0 .416 2.4 6.4 .378 0.6 0.7 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1978-792017-18
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat 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
Wayne Ellington 77 26.5 11.2 0.3 2.5 2.8 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.2 3.7 9.1 .407 2.9 7.5 .392 0.9 1.0 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington 5 20.2 7.8 0.2 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 7.0 .343 2.4 6.0 .400 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 10

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1979-802018-19
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 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
Wayne Ellington 53 24.5 10.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 1.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.7 3.5 8.6 .403 2.6 7.0 .371 0.7 0.9 .796
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
Wayne Ellington 4 32.8 7.8 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.8 8.8 .314 1.8 5.5 .318 0.5 0.5 1.000

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season 1982-832019-20
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
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
Wayne Ellington 36 15.5 5.1 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 1.1 1.7 4.8 .351 1.4 4.0 .350 0.3 0.4 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season -2020-21
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington 46 22.0 9.6 0.3 1.6 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.3 3.2 7.3 .441 2.5 6.0 .422 0.6 0.8 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Wayne Ellington
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington 43 18.8 6.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.0 2.3 5.5 .414 1.9 4.9 .389 0.2 0.3 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------