Dave Cowens vs. Wesley Matthews Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wesley Matthews 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 Wesley Matthews, who played 15. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Wesley Matthews 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
Wesley Matthews 15 9 2009-10 to 2023-24

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 Wesley Matthews
Season 1970-712009-10
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Wesley Matthews 82 24.7 9.4 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.5 0.8 0.2 1.1 1.9 3.3 6.9 .483 0.8 2.0 .382 2.0 2.4 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 10 37.1 13.2 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.7 1.8 0.5 1.5 3.4 3.9 10.1 .386 1.5 4.2 .357 3.9 4.8 .813

Season 2

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1971-722010-11
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Wesley Matthews 82 33.6 15.9 0.6 2.6 3.1 2.0 1.2 0.1 1.7 2.4 5.4 11.9 .449 1.9 4.6 .407 3.2 3.8 .844
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
Wesley Matthews 6 33.7 13.0 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.2 1.2 2.5 4.5 9.5 .474 1.3 3.5 .381 2.7 3.2 .842

Season 3

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1972-732011-12
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Wesley Matthews 66 33.8 13.7 0.8 2.5 3.4 1.7 1.5 0.2 1.1 2.2 4.8 11.6 .412 2.0 5.1 .383 2.2 2.6 .860
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
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1973-742012-13
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Wesley Matthews 69 34.8 14.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 2.5 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.5 5.1 11.7 .436 2.4 6.2 .398 2.2 2.7 .797
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
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1974-752013-14
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Wesley Matthews 82 33.9 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 2.4 0.9 0.2 1.3 2.1 5.4 12.3 .441 2.5 6.2 .393 3.1 3.7 .837
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
Wesley Matthews 11 38.7 14.5 0.6 3.3 3.9 1.3 1.3 0.5 2.0 4.1 5.1 12.4 .412 2.0 6.2 .324 2.4 2.9 .813

Season 6

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1975-762014-15
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Wesley Matthews 60 33.7 15.9 0.6 3.1 3.7 2.3 1.3 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.6 12.5 .448 2.9 7.4 .389 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 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
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1976-772015-16
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 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
Wesley Matthews 78 33.9 12.5 0.3 2.7 3.1 1.9 1.0 0.2 1.0 2.3 4.2 10.9 .388 2.4 6.7 .360 1.6 1.9 .863
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
Wesley Matthews 5 34.6 13.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.2 1.2 0.0 0.8 2.8 4.0 12.0 .333 2.0 7.0 .286 3.0 3.8 .789

Season 8

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1977-782016-17
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Wesley Matthews 73 34.2 13.5 0.2 3.3 3.5 2.9 1.1 0.2 1.4 2.2 4.6 11.6 .393 2.4 6.6 .363 2.0 2.5 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1978-792017-18
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Wesley Matthews 63 33.8 12.7 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.3 2.2 4.5 11.1 .406 2.4 6.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1979-802018-19
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Wesley Matthews 69 30.3 12.2 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.3 0.8 0.2 1.3 2.3 4.0 10.1 .400 2.2 5.8 .372 1.9 2.4 .810
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
Wesley Matthews 4 29.8 7.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.8 0.3 2.0 1.5 2.3 7.5 .300 1.8 5.3 .333 0.8 0.8 1.000

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season 1982-832019-20
Team Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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
Wesley Matthews 67 24.4 7.4 0.3 2.1 2.5 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.5 2.5 6.3 .396 1.6 4.4 .364 0.8 1.0 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 10 24.6 7.2 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.7 2.0 2.4 5.7 .421 1.7 4.3 .395 0.7 1.0 .700

Season 12

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season -2020-21
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 58 19.5 4.8 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.4 1.5 4.3 .353 1.1 3.4 .335 0.6 0.7 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 6 18.3 5.5 0.8 0.8 1.7 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.7 5.5 .303 1.2 4.2 .280 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 13

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season -2021-22
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 49 20.4 5.1 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.4 1.8 1.8 4.5 .395 1.1 3.2 .338 0.4 0.6 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 12 28.8 6.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 1.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 2.3 2.1 5.3 .391 1.5 3.8 .400 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 14

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season -2022-23
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 52 15.8 3.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.4 1.1 3.1 .363 0.8 2.4 .315 0.5 0.5 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 2 20.5 6.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 .444 2.0 3.5 .571 0.0 0.0 -

Season 15

Dave Cowens Wesley Matthews
Season -2023-24
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews 36 11.5 3.1 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 0.9 2.7 .351 0.7 1.9 .348 0.5 0.7 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------